The Enchi District Magistrate Court has granted GH¢5,000 bail with one surety to a farmer resident at Sewum in the Aowin Municipality of the Western North Region for possession of a firearm without lawful authority.
Kwame Tenponyo, 42, pleaded not guilty and the case was adjourned to Thursday, August 19, 2021.
Detective Inspector Joseph Kwadwo Agyare, prosecuting, told the court, presided over by Mr Eric Baah Boateng, that the complainant was Superintendent of Police Bernard Yaw Akotoge, District Police Commander of Enchi.
He said at about 7: 00 p.m. on May 6, 2021, the complainant had a tip-off that some miscreants were engaging in illegal mining and other social vices in Sewum township.
Prosecution said based on the information, Superintendent Akotoge led 20 personnel from the Ghana Police and the Ghana Immigration services to embark on a swoop on the ghettos, where the suspects were mining gold with pickaxe and shovels.
Inspector Agyare said when the team got to the scene, all the suspects disappeared and while destroying and burning their ghettos, they chanced on the accused in possession of SB shotgun with three live BB cartridges.
Prosecution said when the accused was questioned about documents covering the gun, he told the police that it belonged to his friend, one Nana Yaw.
The accused said Nana Yaw brought the gun to him for safekeeping when he travelled to his hometown for a funeral.
Inspector Agyare said Tenponyo was arrested and after investigations, he was charged with the offence. GNA
