Accra: A driver's mate, identified as Isaac Peprah, has been sentenced to six months in prison after pleading guilty to stealing multiple items, including laptops and a fridge, from the Ministry of Finance. Peprah, who is 26 years old, was convicted on his own plea at the Adabraka District Court.
According to Ghana News Agency, Peprah admitted to the charge of stealing but denied accusations of unlawful entry and causing damage. Despite his denial, the trial Judge, Mrs. Abena Owusu Omenyo, decided not to pursue these additional charges, leading to their dismissal upon his conviction and sentencing.
The incident occurred on August 17, 2025, when Peprah, also known as Happiness, unlawfully entered the Ministry of Finance Annex 'E' Treasury block at approximately 5:00 am. He stole four laptops, their chargers, a Bluetooth speaker, and a table-top fridge. The stolen laptops have since been returned to Ministry personnel present in court.
The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Apeweh Achana, informed the court that Mahmud Ahmed, the Acting Head of Security at the Ministry, was the complainant, while Peprah resided in Kokomba Agbogbolshie. The prosecution detailed that Peprah climbed the fence wall to access the premises, causing damage to several louvre blades to enter an office on the first floor, where he stole two Dell laptops.
Furthermore, Peprah used keys found in an office to access another room, stealing additional laptops and a fridge. He attempted to conceal the fridge at the Ministry's car park and left the premises carrying a bag with the stolen laptops. However, his actions aroused suspicion from a witness returning from jogging, leading to a pursuit by a Customs Officer and other colleagues after Peprah fled towards the Ghana Revenue Authority.
Ultimately, Peprah was apprehended in front of the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment offices. He was taken to the Ministries Police Station along with the recovered laptops. Peprah later guided the police to retrieve the hidden tabletop fridge. In his caution statement, made in the presence of an independent witness, Peprah confessed to the crime.
