ADOM vs. THE REPUBLIC

The appellant was arraigned before the District Court Grade I, Techiman, on a charge of refusing to sell a bar of key soap contrary to sections 2 and 3 (1)(b) of the Price Control Decree, 1972 (NRCD 17). He pleaded not guilty and after his trial he was found guilty, convicted and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labour. The main evidence on which the appellant was convicted came from the first prosecution witness and this is what he said during the examination-in-chief: “On 1 April 1974, I went to a store near the post office in Techiman. The accused was keeping the store at the time. I went to the store with Peprah Gyamfi. I bought a tin of Blue Band margarine from the accused. I paid him and he gave me change. I then asked him for a bar of key soap. He said he had none. I saw ten cartons of key soap packed at the left corner of the store. As an active citizen I reported the matter to the police. The police visited the store and impounded the ten cartons of key...