The Ashaiman Circuit Court, presided over by His Worship Mr. Derrick Parden Eshun, has sentenced a 20-year-old scrap dealer, Tahiru Issah, to 12 months in prison with hard labour.
The conviction follows his guilty plea to the charge of stealing when he appeared before the court on March 5, 2025.
Chief Inspector Henry Tetteh Nartey, prosecuting, said Tahiru is a Nigerien who resides at Fitter Line, a suburb of Ashaiman. He added that on February 26, 2025, the Gbetsile District Police were on their usual night patrol duty when they spotted him holding a black polythene bag containing some heavy items.
The prosecutor stated that the police became suspicious, apprehended him, and searched the polythene bag, where they discovered six stopcocks, six safety valves, and one return valve, amounting to GHS 3,250.00, belonging to Ghana Water Limited.
The facts indicated that the police subsequently arrested him and sent him to the Afienya Police Station. Upon interrogation, the suspect admitted to stealing the items from some residents in the area.
He was therefore charged with stealing and placed in custody before being processed for court.
Meanwhile, Dr. Samuel Eson, the Regional Chief Manager for the Tema Region of Ghana Water Limited, has expressed gratitude to the court for the judgment. He added that the company has recently experienced numerous meter-stealing cases, which have negatively impacted their operations.
He appealed to residents to remain vigilant and report such suspected persons to the police. He also cautioned scrap dealers and individuals involved in stealing GWL installations to desist from such acts, warning that those apprehended would face the full rigours of the law.