Cape Coast, – The Central Region Police Command has commended Police Constable Lasim Takol of Assin-Fosu for his dedication to duty and bravery in arresting a man who has confessed that he set fire to more than 10 electricity sub-stations in the Cape Coast municipality. Albert Jonah, alias Ebo, 45, was arrested when he was about to set fire to a sub-station at Peetro roundabout area at 2 a.m. on June four. Deputy Commissioner of Police, Kwaku Siaw, in charge of Central Region, told newsmen that following the recent destruction of sub-stations in the municipality more policemen were mobilised and night patrols were intensified. He said Jonah who stayed at Kawanopado defied the heavy downpour and went to the sub-station where he used a heavy iron bar to break the padlock of the sub-station. He was about to set it ablaze when constable Takol who was on duty rushed there and eventually overpowered him. Speaking to newsmen at the Police Regional Headquarters Jonah, wearing an unkempt beard and hair, said he decided to destroy the property of the ECG because they belong to the government. By so doing he would draw the attention of a debt the government owned him. Jonah who described himself as ”a textile mechanic,” said he had burnt more than 10 sub-stations in the municipality. He used rag and petrol to set fire to the stations and mentioned Mfantsipim junction, third ridge junction, St Augustine, OLA, University of Cape Coast, Fort Ridge and Pedu roundabout as areas where he had damaged transformers. Jonah said he was about to set fire to the transformer at Peetro roundabout when he was arrested. He said when he became a trader many people, including lawyers, magistrates and the government owed him. He hired the services of one lawyer Emile Short to prosecute his 10 cases in court for him. According to him, he burnt his counsel’s car because he did not perform well to his satisfaction. Jonah said he was arrested and sent to court but the court ordered that he should be sent to a psychiatric hospital although he claimed he was not rpt not insane. He stayed at the mental hospital for some time and was eventually
freed. The Regional Director of ECG, Mr John Azu, commended the police for helping to arrest the man.
