DANKWAH vs. THE REPUBLIC

On 13 August 1974, the appellant was arraigned before the Akim Oda District Court Grade I charged with the offence of the use of an uninsured vehicle contrary to section 3 (1) of the Motor Vehicles (Third Party Insurance) Act, 1958 (No. 42 of 1958), hereinafter referred to as the 1958 Act. The particulars of the information preferred against him read as follows: “Kwasi Appea Dankwa: Lorry Driver: For that you on 12 May 1974, on Akim Oda-Apotasu bridge near State Transport Corporation, Akim Oda in the eastern magisterial district and within the jurisdiction of this court, then being the owner and driver in charge [of] Bedford lorry No. GG 5418 did drive the said vehicle on the road when the third party insurance was not in force.” He pleaded guilty to the charge and was convicted and sentenced to a fine of ¢30 or two months’ imprisonment with hard labour. In addition, he was disqualified from holding a driving licence for a period of twelve months, the statutory minimum as...