The 14 security personnel discharged in the alleged cocoa smuggling case re-appeared in an Accra Circuit Court on Tuesday to face fresh charges of attempting to smuggle cocoa outside the country.

They were eight personnel of Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), three immigration personnel, two Policemen and a National Security Operative.

Their pleas were not taken and admitted to GH¢20,000 bail with two sureties to be justified.

The accused persons are Gabriel Dimado, Collection Assistant Grade One, Paul Dzamesi, Junior Collection Assistant Grade Three, Steven S. Quaye Junior Collection Assistant Grade Three, Adolf Armah, Junior Collection Assistant Grade Three.

The rest are Prosper Edze, Junior Collection Assistant, William F. Yawson, Collection Assistant Grade Two, Eric R. Apeadu, Junior Collection Grade Three; and James Dzamesi, Junior Collection Grade Three.

The others are Mate Korle, Assistant Immigration Officer Grade One, Frederick Kofiabley, Assistant Immigration Officer Grade Two, and Kofi Aboagye Assistant Immigration Officer Grade Two.

The rest are Samuel Kwasi Ekpeagba and J.K. Boakye both Police Constables and Isaac Kwaku Asare Darko, a National Security operative.

Mr Anthony Rexford Wiredu, Principal State Attorney, prosecuting did not reject to the bail application before the court presided over by Mrs Adjoa Coleman.

He said the prosecution would study the “Cocoa smuggling video footage” and other facts of the matter.

However, Mr Raymond Bagnabu, Counsel for Dimado, Quaye, Edze and Dzamesi prayed the court for bail to his clients.

Mr J. S. Senoo, Frank Yankey, T.K. Yeboah and Alex Abban, the other defence counsels said the accused persons had not been properly charged before the court and in contravention with some sections of the 1992 Constitution.

Mrs Coleman, noted that the prosecution was undecided therefore granted the bail and adjourned the case to August 10.

The facts of the case are that an investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas had information that some security personnel at the Western frontier of Ghana-Cote d’Ivoire border were compromising their work.

The journalist alleged that they received monetary consideration to assist the smuggling of dried cocoa beans from Ghana and investigated the issue which was captured on video and referred to the Police for investigations, after which the accused persons were arrested and charged with the offences.

Source: GNA