ACQUAH
V.
THE REPUBLIC
CHARLES CRABBE J.: The appellant was charged with keeping eleven bags of rice in a manner likely to create a shortage of that commodity to the public. Each bag of rice weighed 220 lb.
The case for the prosecution was that on 19 April 1972, some army personnel visited the kiosk of the appellant. It was not locked. They saw that some empty soap boxes and empty sugar boxes had been packed on top of some items. They entered the kiosk. They saw bags of rice covered with a woman’s cover cloth. They collected eleven bags of rice and sent them to the Ghana National Trading Corporation for safe keeping. The matter was reported to the police. According to the prosecution the appellant had not displayed rice anywhere. On the other hand, there were bars of soap which had been cut into pieces which she was selling.
She was found guilty by the learned trial circuit judge. A fine of ¢50.00 was imposed in default of which she would go to prison for two months with hard labour. She felt aggrieved at thi…