A Tarkwa Circuit Court has sentenced twenty-year-old labourer Kojo Sah Nkrumah to a fine of GH¢120,000 following his guilty plea for possessing and selling cannabis and tramadol. Arrested during a January 2025 routine night patrol, Nkrumah faces three years in prison if he fails to pay the court-imposed penalty.
Routine Railway Station Patrol Leads to Arrest
The case against the Tarkwa resident began in the early hours of January 21, 2025. Officers stationed at the Western Central Regional Formed Police Unit (RFPU) Base in Tarkwa were conducting a routine night patrol when the police team led by Chief Inspector Issahaque Yahaya extended its operation to the Tarkwa Railway Station.
Officers spotted Kojo Sah Nkrumah seated under a shed in the area. Suspecting he was dealing in illicit drugs, the patrol team searched a takeaway bag in his possession. Inside, authorities recovered 81 pieces of wrapped dried leaves, seven sachets of tramadol, and GH¢240 in cash. Prosecutors stated that the money represented proceeds from selling the restricted substances. Nkrumah was taken into custody at the Tarkwa Police Station alongside the retrieved items.
Forensic Testing Confirms Cannabis and THC Content
Following the arrest, investigators submitted the seized physical evidence to the Forensic Crime Laboratory in Accra. Records show the exhibits arrived at the laboratory on April 25, 2025, for scientific examination.
A forensic analysis report arrived weeks later on May 13, 2025. The examination confirmed that the plant material tested positive for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the principal psychoactive compound found in cannabis. Documentation established that the seized plant material carried a gross weight of 139.61 grams.
Guilty Plea and Court Penalty at Tarkwa Circuit Court
Assistant Superintendent of Police Samuel Ahiabor led the prosecution during court proceedings. Nkrumah faced two separate counts for possessing and selling narcotic drugs without lawful authority.
Entering a guilty plea, the young labourer was convicted and sentenced on his own plea. Presiding judge Ms Bernice Mensimah Ackon issued the financial penalty, directing that the GH¢120,000 fine must be accompanied by a three-year prison term to be served in default of payment.
