GAMELI AGBAVOR vs. THE REPUBLIC [2018]DLHC4061

Date	2018-05-11
Suit No.	SUIT NO. F22/39/2018
Citation No.	[2018]DLHC4061

ERIC BAAH JUSTICE OF THE HIGH COURT

M. Z. GLOVER FOR APPELLANT SIMON ADATSI FOR THE REPUBLIC

DE SERVICE CE CHANA JUDICIAL SERVICE OR GHADOARE GHANA

[2018]DLHC4061
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >GAMELI AGBAVOR<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>THE REPUBLIC<o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT, HO]<o:p></o:p>SUIT
NO. F22/39/2018&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 11TH
MAY 2018 <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>M.
Z. GLOVER FOR APPELLANT SIMON ADATSI FOR THE REPUBLIC <o:p></o:p>DE
SERVICE CE CHANA JUDICIAL SERVICE OR GHADOARE GHANA <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

</div>CORAM:<o:p></o:p>ERIC BAAH
JUSTICE OF THE HIGH COURT <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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</div>JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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</div>The
appellant was charged before the Circuit Court, Aflao on three counts. The
first two counts related to "distribution of fertilizer without
registration or licence, contrary to Section 68 (1) and 80 (5) (a) of the plant
and Fertilizer Act, 2010, (Act 803). <o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>In
count three, he was charged for "smuggling and other evasion,
contrary to Section 317 (1) (c) (e) and (f) of Act 29, 1960.” <o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>After
a plenary trial, he was discharged in respect of the first two counts. He was
however convicted on the third count, and that is the subject of this appeal. <o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>Mr
Glover for the appellant urged the following on the court: <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:none;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;
mso-border-shadow:yes">a.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That
the failure of the prosecution to call Stephen Dzodzi who arrested the
appellant was fatal, for he was supposed to be the prosecution's star witness,
and the omission to call him created a reasonable doubt, which must enure to
the benefit of the appellant. <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:none;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;
mso-border-shadow:yes">b.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That
there was confusion about the identity of the person who arrested the
appellant. Whereas PW1 called hi