By Murtala Issah
A 34-year-old unemployed man is facing a fifteen-year jail term in hard labour following his conviction at a Tamale Circuit court.
Salawudeen Abdallah was convicted of the prohibited sale of drugs without lawful authority, contrary to section 111 of the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851).
The convict was slapped with a seven thousand five hundred penalty units, which is the equivalent of ninety thousand Ghana cedis. Should the convict fail to pay the amount, he will be committed to a fifteen-year term in prison with hard labour.
According to the statement of fact, a police patrol team arrested Mr. Salawudeen at the Shell filling station at Lamashegu, a suburb of Tamale, on the 25th of February, 2025, at about 2:30 p.m., riding an unregistered motorbike.
The police officers arrested Mr. Salawudeen when they saw 30 sachets of Tafrodol Caps 120 mg valued at six hundred Ghana cedis concealed in a box under the motorbike seat. He was handed over to the Drugs Law Enforcement Unit (DLEU) at the Tamale Police Regional Headquarters for further investigation. Mr. Salawudeen subsequently claimed ownership of the exhibits and mentioned one Iddriss at Gushegu as his supplier.
Further investigations also revealed the accused person has been delivering Trafodole 120 mg to his client within and outside Tamale. He was cautioned, and he admitted to the offences and thereafter, charged and arraigned before the Circuit Court.
A police source told GBC News that the conviction is a victory for the police and the public. The source said the police have been working to arrest the increasing menace of drug abuse in Tamale, which has gained international attention following a recent exposé by the BBC.
The BBC investigation revealed the devastating effect of drug abuse on the youth of Tamale.
The police say they are tracking down the suppliers and will soon bring them to justice. The source expressed the hope that Mr. Salawudeen’s conviction will deter others who are into the trade.
