CLIFFORD BRONI BEDIAKO vs. THE REPUBLIC

DENNIS D ADJEI JA The appellant stood trial at the Greater Accra Regional Tribunal, Accra on a charge of possession of narcotic drug without lawful authority contrary to Section 2 of the Narcotic Drugs (Control, Enforcement and Sanction Law) PNDCL 236/1990. The Appellant pleaded not guilty to the offence and trial started on 24th May 2006. In the course of the trial the Appellant applied to change his plea and the plea was retaken but the explanation offered suggested that he was not guilty and the trial Tribunal continued with the hearing of the matter to its finality. The plea which was retaken in the middle of the trial has been raised as an issue by the Appellant and the legal issues involved would be addressed in due course. Briefly stated the case of the prosecution was that the Appellant, a Ghanaian who was pursuing a Masters programme in London Metropolitan University was arrested at the Kotoka International Airport on 14th July 2005 when he was scheduled to travel to Lo...