IMPRAIM vs. THE REPUBLIC

The appellant, a young man in his early twenties, was arraigned before his Worship, S. A. Ankrah, sitting at the District Court Grade II, Winneba on a charge of being on premises for unlawful purpose contrary to section 155 of the Criminal Code, 1960 (Act 29). He pleaded guilty to the charge and was convicted on his own plea and was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment with hard labour. He later appealed against his conviction and sentence and subsequently brought an application for bail pending appeal. When this motion came on for hearing, Mr. A. H. Sackeyfio, holding Mr H. H. Hayford’s brief, decided to withdraw the application for bail and pleaded that since the record of proceedings was available, the appeal be admitted for argument. The Chief State Attorney, Mr. Creppy, did not object so the motion for bail was withdrawn and the appeal admitted for argument. Learned counsel for the appellant abandoned grounds 1 and 2 which were against the conviction and rather sought an...