Britons To Serve Jail Term In Britain?

The British High Commission says although there is no bilateral agreement between the government of Ghana and the British Government on prisoner transfer, there is the likelihood that British High Commission in Ghana could engage in a mutual agreement with the government for the transfer of the three British nationals who were handed down 20 years imprisonment each for smuggling 588.33 kilograms of cocaine into the country, by an Accra High Court, yesterday.

John David Logan, 43, Frank Lavelrick, 43 and Alan Hodson 45, all British nationals were found guilty for conspiracy and possession of cocaine without lawful authority. Speaking in an interview with Peace FM News today, October 28, 2004, the Head of Public Affairs at the British High Commission, Mr. Gary Nicoles stated that normally prisoner transfers from one country to the UK takes place if there is a mutual agreement between both countries. He added that since there is no such agreement, it is unlikely that the three British nationals will be transferred.

Mr. Nicoles, however, disclosed that even if such an agreement exists, the prisoner will first have to make a request for a transfer before the UK Government and Ghanaian officials can work out the details.

He further revealed that if any mutual talks between officials of the two countries fail to work, the British government will maintain contact with the three Britons by undertaking prisoner visits and also ensure that their welfare is safeguard.