Blacksmith fined for manufacturing firearms

The Wa Circuit Court has fined Francis Kwesi Abdulai, a 25-year-old blacksmith two million cedis for manufacturing firearms without authority.

Two co-accused persons, Abubakari Seidu, 20, and Mani Tomah, 29, both farmers were also fined two million cedis each or to go to jail for two years each in default for buying two single barrelled guns from Abdulai.

They all pleaded not guilty, but were found guilty by the court presided over by Mr R.C. Azumah.

Presenting the facts of the case to the court, Police Inspector Stephen Dobara said the blacksmith was on September 22 last year arrested upon a tip-off for manufacturing a double barrel pistol.

Inspector Dobara said a search was conducted at the culprits workshop where the two co-accused were found with similar weapons and were immediately arrested.

He said when the two confessed buying the weapons from Abdulai police mounted a search and arrested him.

Inspector Dobara said when the blacksmith's room was searched three locally manufactured single barrelled guns, several unfinished locally made pistols and an amount of 725,000 cedis believed to be proceeds from his illegal arms business were found.

The presiding judge ordered the police to destroy all the arms and return his money to him.