Kwadwo Ababio Freed

By William Yaw Owusu
Tuesday, 03 October 2006
Kwadwo Ababio, one of the five people charged in connection with the disappearance of the 77 parcels of cocaine from the MV Benjamin vessel at the Tema Port, had been discharged by an Accra circuit court.

He was discharged yesterday following a submission by the prosecution that the state was no longer interested in prosecuting him.

Ms Getrude Aikins, Chief State Attorney told the court, "We want to withdraw the case against the accused person. We have already entered a nolle prosequi."

Ababio, who had been on remand since August 2, was not in court, but was represented by his counsel Agyei Mensah.

With this development, only Kwabena Amaning, popularly called Tagor, Issah Abass, Kwabena Acheampong and Vickor Kisseh, also known as Yaw Billah will be in the dock when the case resumes on October 9.

Ababio, together with the other four, faced provisional charges of conspiracy, engaging in prohibited business related to narcotic drugs, establishing and promoting enterprise relating to narcotic drugs.

Tagor, Abass, Acheampong and Ababio were arrested on August 2, soon after testifying before the Justice Georgina Wood Committee which was investigating the missing cocaine. Yaw Billah was arrested later.

They made their first appearance at the circuit court on August 4, and had since been refused bail on five occasions.

At their first appearance the prosecution told the court that sometime in November last year, the police had information about the arrival of a vessel at the Tema Port with 78 parcels of cocaine.

However, when the police searched the vessel only one parcel was found.

Police investigations later revealed that the other 77 parcels were removed from the vessel before the police undertook the search.

The prosecution on September indicated its intention to move the case at the Fast Track High Court and added that they were waiting for the Justice Georgina Wood Committee report to review the whole matter in respect of the charges preferred against the accused persons.