A level 300 student of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), has been arrested by the police for allegedly possessing dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.
The police have since charged Augustus Akwasi Koranteng, 33, with possessing narcotic drugs without lawful authority contrary to the Narcotic Drugs Control, Enforcement and Sanctions Law, 236 of 1990.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge of possessing narcotic drugs without lawful authority when he was arraigned before the Swedru Circuit Court on Friday.
Koranteng who is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in English once served as Central Regional correspondent for an Accra-based radio station.
He has been granted bail to the tune of GH¢50,000 with two sureties. He is to deposit documents of landed property as well as deposit his Ghanaian passport too.
The court ordered that he should report to the police every Monday and Friday until the final determination of the case.
The court presided over by Jonathan Desmond Nunoo adjourned the case to November 5, 2020.
Arguing for bail in court, counsel for Koranteng, Frederick Selby told the court that per a judicial precedent, accused persons in cases involving unlawful possession of narcotics can now be granted bail and therefore prayed the court to grant Koranteng bail.
He argued that the alleged dried leaves were yet to be taken to the forensic unit for testing and that the results may not be ready in time to aid the prosecution in the case.
