Unemployed Man Remanded for Theft of Electricity Company Property.

Weija: The Weija Circuit Court has remanded Michael Ofori, a 24-year-old unemployed man, into prison custody for allegedly stealing and causing unlawful damage to fuses fixed in electricity distribution panels belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana, Ltd. (ECG). Ofori, also known as 'Sammy', faced two charges-causing unlawful damage and stealing-with the fuses valued at Ghc15,840.00.According to Ghana News Agency, Ofori pleaded guilty to causing unlawful damage but denied the charge of stealing. The court, presided over by Mr. Joshua Caleb Abaidoo, has scheduled Ofori to reappear on November 27, 2024. The prosecution, led by Police Inspector Joseph Barabu, reported that on November 15, 2024, Mohammed Ibrahim, the complainant, observed Ofori at around 5:00 am within the ECG's transformer and distribution panel premises in Ayigbe Town. Ofori was allegedly seen removing fuses from the panel using pliers when the complainant spotted him.Upon being noticed, Ofori reportedly fled the scene, leaving behind the stolen items and his tools. Ibrahim promptly alerted the ECG office at Bortianor about the incident and handed over the recovered items. The following day, Ibrahim encountered Ofori again and facilitated his arrest. Ofori was subsequently taken to the New Weija police station for further interrogation, during which he allegedly confessed to removing twelve fuses from the distribution panel.Furthermore, Ofori led the police to other ECG installations in the area where he had allegedly broken locks and stolen an unspecified number of fuses. The court was informed that the police at SCC, Weija, had been receiving multiple reports of thefts involving prepaid meters and fuses from ECG's electricity distribution panels in recent times.