CHARLES TETTEH vs. THE REPUBLIC

JUDGMENT ON CRIMINAL APPEAL Upon leave of the Court dated 22 November 2022, the appellant filed the notice of appeal a day after, that is, 23 November 2022. The appeal is just for the mitigation of the sentence, on grounds that “the 12 years sentence is harsh”, and that besides, the appellant is “a first time offender”. The appellant was on 17 April 2019 convicted by the Circuit Court Ho for having on 28 September 2017 been found by the police in possession of a narcotic drug, cannabis Sativa without lawful authority contrary to s.2(1) Narcotic Drug (Control, Enforcement, and Sanctions) Act, 1990 (PNDC Law 236). The appellant pleaded not guilty to the charge. The trial circuit court judge found otherwise and convicted the appellant of the offence and sentenced him to 12 years IHL. It is this decision of the court in sentencing the appellant to 12 years that the appellant feels dissatisfied and has appealed on grounds that it is harsh and that he is a first offender. I ha...