A 23-year-old food vendor has been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment in hard labour by a Kumasi Circuit Court for illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.
Emmanuel Kwadwo Boakye pleaded not guilty.
Police Chief Inspector Isaac Mensah Apenteng told the courtthat at dawn on July 23, police officers on the Kumasi/Sunyani highway stopped a taxi in which Boakye and another person, who is on the run, were and was driven by one Kwadwo Obeng.
As the taxi pulled up, the convict was seen passing a bag to another passenger.
As they edged closer, the other man opened the door and took to his heels, leaving the bag behind. Police Chief Inspector Apenteng said the policemen prevented Boakye from escaping and a search uncovered a locally manufactured pistol, a live cartridge, dried leaves believed to be cannabis and a Nokia cell phone in the bag.
Further search in his room led to the recovery of another live cartridge.