By: Kekeli K. Blamey
A 24-year-old unemployed man, Michael Ofori, also known as Sammy, has been remanded into prison custody by the Weija Circuit Court for stealing and causing unlawful damage to fuses fixed in electricity distribution panels belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana, Ltd. (ECG).
The stolen fuses are valued at GH¢15,840.
Ofori was charged with two counts of causing unlawful damage and stealing.
He pleaded guilty to causing unlawful damage but not guilty to stealing. The court, presided over by Mr. Joshua Caleb Abaidoo, has scheduled his next appearance for November 27, 2024.
According to the prosecution, led by Police Inspector Joseph Barabu, the accused was caught by the complainant, Mohammed Ibrahim, on November 15, 2024, at around 5 am, removing fuses from an ECG distribution panel at Ayigbe Town.
Ofori escaped but left behind his tools and stolen items.
The complainant alerted the ECG office at Bortianor and handed over the items. The following day, the complainant spotted Ofori again and instigated his arrest.
Upon interrogation, Ofori confessed to removing 12 fuses from the distribution panel and led police to other ECG installations where he had previously stolen fuses.
The court heard that the police at SCC, Weija had received several reports of thefts of prepaid meters and fuses in electricity distribution panels belonging to ECG.
This incident is not isolated, as there have been similar cases of theft and vandalism of ECG property in the area.
