Farmer goaled 10 years for planting India hemp

Agona Swedru, May 24, GNA - The Agona Swedru Circuit Court has sentenced Emmanuel Essuman alias Cash, a 52-year-old farmer from Gomoa Dago, to a 10-year jail term to for planting Indian hemp. He pleaded guilty but asked the court for forgiveness promising that he was not going to do that again.

Prosecuting, Inspector Emmanuel Dziekpor, told the Court presided by Mr Charles A Wilson that the Police at Gomoa Dawurampong upon information that the accused had turned his backyard garden into a wee farm raided his house on May 11 2007.

He told the court that a search in his room lead to the discovery of 46 parcels of dry leaves suspected to be Indian hemp. When the Police went to the back-yard garden, cassava, pepper and plantain inter planted with India hemp was found.

The prosecutor said the Indian hemp found at the backyard garden was destroyed and some of the plants used as an exhibit. Passing judgment, Mr Wilson asked the Agona Swedru to raid spots known to be the hideout of narcotic dealers town and arrest them. He called on the public to assist the Police by providing information about criminals within their communities.