Portuphy dragged to court for illegal possession of weapon

Kofi Portuphy, former Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), was on Wednesday arraigned at a circuit tribunal in Accra for possessing a locally manufactured gun without permit.

Portuphy, who pleaded not guilty to possessing arms and ammunition without authority, was granted a five million-cedi bail to re-appear on January 5, next year.

The tribunal chaired by Mr Imoru Ziblim ordered that the docket should be sent to the Attorney General's office for advice.

The court heard that, in January this year, following the upsurge of armed robbery and related crimes, the government declared a moratorium for persons in possession of unlicensed weapons to surrender them to the security agencies.

Prosecution said during the period, a series of exercises were mounted to retrieve such weapons. The exercise took the team to Portuphy's residence at Roman Ridge in Accra where a search revealed, a pistol, 12 SB shot gun, 50 pieces of Buffalo cartridges, 133 pieces of .9mm ammunition and one locally manufactured gun.

The court also heard that after investigations it was found out that all the ammunitions were licensed except the locally manufactured gun that was impounded by the Police.