Two remanded over suspected Indian hemp at Arts Centre

Two persons have been remanded by the Accra Circuit Court Nine after police allegedly found them with 500 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.

The accused, Torsu Assidam and Kofi Kesse, appeared before the court on Tuesday, but their pleas were not taken.

The court, presided over by Joseph Yennuban Kunsong, remanded them to reappear on October 14, 2026.

Police say a third suspect, identified only as Amando, is currently at large.

Chief Inspector Clement Sarpong, prosecuting, told the court that the case began on August 23, 2026, when the Accra Regional Police Command received information about suspected drug sales at the Arts Centre.

According to the prosecution, police were informed that a group of young men were in possession of a quantity of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp and were selling them to residents in the area.

A team from the Accra Regional Stopper 2 was dispatched to the location.

The team arrested Assidam and Kesse and took them to the Regional Criminal Investigations Department for further action.

Chief Inspector Sarpong said the two accused persons were found with 500 wraps of the dried leaves.

The suspected narcotic substances were seized and handed over for investigation.

The prosecution said the accused persons admitted during on-the-spot questioning that the exhibits belonged to them.

They allegedly told police that the items had been given to them by Amando to sell.

However, they were unable to lead police to his whereabouts.

Chief Inspector Sarpong said the accused persons also admitted the offence during investigations before they were arraigned.

The court was further told that the exhibits have been sent to the Police Forensic Science Laboratory for examination and report.

Police say efforts are ongoing to locate and arrest Amando to assist investigations.