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NACOC intensifies war against drug dealers
• Transportation of narcotic drugs is illegal and punishable
The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has vowed to deal decisively with those who engage in transportation of narcotic drugs.
According to the Commission, it will not renege on its commitment in ensuring drastic reduction of all types of narcotic drugs in the country.
“The possession and attempted transportation of narcotic drugs is still illegal and punishable under the domestic law. We, therefore, assure the citizens of our commitment to keeping the influx of smuggling of all types of narcotic drugs to the barest minimum in collaboration with the relevant stakeholders.”
Mr. Francis Opoku Amoah, Acting Director, Public Affairs and International Relations of Narcotics Control Commission told this reporter on a telephone interview against the backdrop of the arrest of a Liberian woman, Ms. Wolo Maikplay Margaret, at the Kotoka International Airport on May, 14, 2022, for attempting to smuggle cocaine from Liberia to Bangkok, Thailand, on board Qatar Airways.
In all 30 pellets of cocaine weighing 227.2101 grammes were retrieved from her vagina and beneath her breasts when NACOC officials conducted physical search on her following a tip-off, as regards her nefarious activities.
The woman readily admitted her guilt of “attempted exportation and possession of narcotic drug without a Minister of Health Licence” which violated Sections 36 and 37 of the Narcotics Control Commision Act 2020 (Act 1019) respectively.
The culprit was arraigned at an Accra High Court in record time and was jailed 10 years by Justice Mary Ekua Yanzuh on her (convicts’s) own plea.
Ms Woho was again ordered by the court to pay a fine of 10.000 penalty units (GH¢ 120,000) or serve additional three years in prison when she failed to pay.
By Castro Zangina-Tong
The Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has disbursed GHS134,000 to 22 students under the latest round of his Scholarship and Bursaries Programme.
According to a statement from his office, the 22 beneficiaries are enrolled in 16 tertiary institutions across the country.
They are studying various courses, including medicine, marketing, law, public health, midwifery, business administration, education, and secretaryship.
The MP’s office commended the beneficiaries, especially the five students currently studying medicine and physician assistantship, encouraging them to remain committed to their studies.
The statement indicated that the scholarship initiative, which began in 2017, aims to support brilliant but needy students from the Ofoase Ayirebi Constituency to further their education. So far, about 700 students have benefited from the program.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Four tricycle operators, popularly known as ‘Pragya’, have been prosecuted and fined GH¢600 each equivalent to 50 penalty units by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) Sanitation Court for obstructing public roads at the Agbogbloshie Market.
The offenders, who were arrested by Public Health Officers of the AMA during a routine enforcement exercise, pleaded guilty to the offence and were subsequently convicted by the court.
The four operators were among the 21 offenders recently arrested at the Agbogbloshie Market for various sanitation and public order violations, including selling on open drains, obstructing walkways, and trading at unauthorised locations.
Speaking after the court proceedings, the Head of Public Health at the AMA, Madam Florence Kuukyi, said the court was lenient with the offenders since it was their first appearance, hence the fine, and warned that subsequent offenders would face stiffer penalties, including imprisonment.
