Farmer fined for possession of firearm

Kofi Boakye, a farmer and resident of Telebukazo in the Western Region has been convicted by the Kumasi Circuit Court for possessing a fire arm without lawful authority.

 Boakye pleaded guilty with explanation to the charge and was convicted on his plea by the court, presided over by Mrs Afia Adu-Amankwah.

 He was fined GH¢1,200 or in default serve seven months in prison.

Boakye told the court that while returning from the burial of his daughter in the north, he met a man at Techiman who sold the locally manufactured pistol to him at GH¢100.00.

He said rodents had been disturbing his chicken and needed the gun to protect his coop.

He pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy and be lenient with him.

In sentencing him, Mrs Adu-Amankwah, said she took cognisance of the fact that he was a family man with no previous criminal records and he did not waste the court's time.

Chief Inspector Mr Felix Akowuah, told the court that Boakye was arrested by the Highway Patrol team on the Techiman-Kumasi road.

He said on September 20, 2015 at around 3:30 a.m, the team intercepted a bus load of passengers heading towards Kumasi at Asempanaye.

 According to him, a search conducted on Boakye revealed the locally manufactured pistol concealed in a bag hanging around his neck.

Boakye claimed ownership of the gun and was arrested for illegal possession of fire arm.