Driver admits alcohol use, fined 2 million cedis

Tema, Jan. 25, GNA - Solomon Kwasi Ansong, a commercial driver on Friday amused the audience at the Tema Circuit Court "A" when he admitted driving under the influence of alcohol but told the presiding judge that he had taken the drink the previous day at Kwahu. Ansong had pleaded guilty with explanation to a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol.

When the judge, Mr Charles Asiedu asked him to give his explanation, he said "My lord it is true that I smelled alcohol but I did not drink it that day, I took it the day before at Kwahu." The audience burst into laughter at Ansong's explanation and the judge imposed a fine of two million cedis on him. He will go to prison for nine months in default.

Prosecuting, Inspector Adolphus Otchere said on January 20, this year, police personnel from the Tema Motor Traffic Unit (MTU) were on their usual patrol duties on the Ghana Textile Manufacturing Company road at the industrial area at Tema when they signalled Ansong who was driving a DAF truck with registration number AS 1784 Q to stop but he failed.

He said the police chased him to a distance before apprehending him and when he was taken to the MTU Office it was detected through an alcoholmeter that he had 30 percent of alcohol in his system while driving instead of zero percent.