The Volta Regional Police Command has destroyed 600 fertiliser sacks of Indian hemp, weighing a total of 47,530kg and valued at about GH¢4.2 billion, following a court order granted after the conclusion of a criminal trial.

The destruction exercise took place on Monday, November 17 , at around 2:30pm and involved exhibits seized in 2022 in the case of The Republic versus Yao Kwadwo, also known as Wallako, and two others.

In a statement issued on Thursday, November 20 and signed by Chief Inspector Francis Kwaru Gomado, Head of the Public Affairs Unit of the Volta Region, the Police said the Ho Circuit Court authorised the destruction after the drugs had been tendered in evidence.

According to the release, “the six hundred sacks contained a total of forty-seven thousand, five hundred and thirty kilograms (47,530kg) with an estimated face value of about 4.2 billion Ghana cedis.”

The order for disposal was granted by the Ho Circuit Court, presided over by His Honour Felix Datsumor Esq. The burning was supervised by a team that included Mr Moses Dzanfi, Circuit Court Registrar; Mr Joseph Opusomah, State Attorney; Mr Daniel John Pekyi of the Narcotics Control Commission; and Mr Emmanuel Mensah Gbekor of the Environmental Protection Authority.

The exhibits were “completely burnt under strict Police, National Security and media presence at about 22:30 hours at the Kiefe dumping site in Ho,” the statement added.

The Regional Police Command expressed gratitude to all partners involved in combating drug trafficking, stating that it “appreciates the support of stakeholders in the fight against the drug menace.”