Two persons are standing trial at the Navrongo Magistrate Court for stealing a fence wire at the Ghana Water Company sub-station in the Kassena-Nankana Municipality of the Upper East Region.
The who are farmers are; 25-year-old Josberg Ayoma Anontara and Maxwell Aneba, 27. The complainant is Stanley Akolbire, a Manager at Ghana Water.
The two suspects have been charged with unlawful entry to the Ghana Water Company’s yard; causing unlawful damage; stealing, and dishonestly receiving.
Narrating the circumstances that led to the arrest of two accused persons Josberg Ayoma Anontara and Maxwell Aneba to the court presided over by Mr. Issah Abdul Wahab, Chief Inspector A. K. Danso, said on the 19th of August 2019, the complainant Akolbire Stanley who is the Manager of the Ghana Water Company in the Kassena-Nankana Municipality, received a call from the security man at the Water Company sub-station at Doba, Isaac Azuntara that during his patrols at the yard he found out that some part of the fenced wire netting at the water pumping station, has been removed.
The complainant quickly reported the crime to the police station in Navrongo and during the investigation it came to light that Josberg Ayoma Anontara stole about 100 meters of the fence wire netting valued at 3, 300 Ghana cedis.
The complainant, therefore, led police to arrest Josberg Ayoma Anontara but immediately he saw the police and the complainant, he took to his heels.
The prosecutor explained that on the 3rd of December 2019, his outfit received information that parts of the stolen fence wire netting was found in Maxwell Aneba’s garden.
Police proceeded to Maxwell Aneba’s garden and found the said wire and Maxwell Aneba was arrested together with the parts of the wire netting and during interrogation, Maxwell Aneba confirmed to the police that he bought it from Josberg Ayoma Anontara.
Josberg Ayoma Anontara was later arrested and both accused persons were cautioned. Josberg Ayoma Anontara however denied the offence whilst Maxwell admitted that he bought the said fence wire netting from Josberg Ayoma Anontara.
In an interview with Radio Ghana after the court hearing, the Upper East Regional Chief Manager of the Ghana Water Company Limited, Kwasi Abebrese, expressed worry over the situation and pledged his outfits readiness to protect the property of the Ghana Water Company across the region.
The Lawyer for the second accused Maxwell Aneba, Tahidu Lawal, described Maxwell Aneba’s issue as a victim of circumstances.
With the absence of the fence wire, stray animals now have access to the water company’s Doba branch yard. The authorities at the water company fear the animals may temper with the water treatment plant.
The case has been adjourned to the 3rd next month.
