The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) says the Inchaban Treatment Plant’s cable thief believed to be a minor and his identity to be protected has been proven to be 18 years of age.
Information from the GWCL and made available to atlfmnews.com said at the Shama Magistrate Court presided over by Ms. Patience Ablorh on Wednesday, September 27, the arrested cable thief suspect, Baba Salihu was proven not a minor when his Ghana Card was requested in court.
“He was asked to produce his Ghana card in court to prove his age. Lo and behold, he was 18 years old and was subsequently sentenced to 24 months in prison by the Shama Magistrate Court presided over by Ms. Patience Ablorh.”
The suspect is also said to have stolen footwear meant for sale about 2 weeks ago when he broke into a container shop belonging to some “Akokyi people”, Negeriens.
GWCL indicated that at the time, suspect, Baba Salihu alongside two others were slapped with fines, but one of the two received a 6-month jail term when he could not pay the fine.
GWCL expresses satisfaction at the swift prosecution of the suspect as in their view that will serve as a deterrent to others who may be engaging in GWCL Treatment Plant thievery.
According to the GWCL, The Inchaban Water Treatment Plant of Ghana Water Limited has, since October 2022, been going through difficulties at the hands of cable thieves.
“Thieves have stolen several meters of cables supplying power to critical installations at the Treatment Plant.
In October 2022, the cables supplying power to the submersible pump at the intake of the plant were stolen rendering the pump useless. The submersible pump is used during the dry season when the water level in the dam goes down such that water cannot flow by gravity to the treatment plant.
Due to this cable theft, the GWCL says the station was unable to engage this special device during the dry season, causing the plant to nearly shut down in March 2023″ contained in a GWCL statement on September 25, 2023.
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Source: Aba Aikins Appah/ATLFMNEWS