A Circuit Court in Cape Coast has sentenced a man in his mid-30s to 18 months in prison for stealing a metal slab covering a valve chamber belonging to the Ghana Water Company at Ankaful in the Central Region.
Samuel Mensah had failed to appear before the court when the case was called on Tuesday, 15th March 2022.
At the second hearing, however, Samuel Mensah appeared, and the court sentenced him to 18 months in prison custody.
Speaking to Citi News, the Central and Western Regional Communications Manager for the Ghana Water Company, Nana Yaw Barima Banie, hoped the move would serve as a deterrent to others.
“One day, you may not be lucky and be like Samuel Mensah and may have to serve time in jail.”
He noted that the theft of such slabs has adverse effects on the work of the water company.
“Because these slabs have been removed, people end up throwing refuse and debris into them, and the debris or whatever they poured inside will cover the valve.”
Mr. Banie explained that the water company uses the valves to control the water in the pipe network.
“If for example there is a burst on a particular line, and we want to isolate that line, so we can fix that burst, without the valve, we can’t stop the water.”