An Agona Swedru Circuit Court has sentenced two men to a combined 25 years in prison with hard labour after they pleaded guilty to stealing electrical cables belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
Ebenezer Fosu, alias Kwame Okae, a 39-year-old fisherman, received a 15-year sentence, while his accomplice, Abubakar Sadick, a 24-year-old scrap dealer, was sentenced to 10 years. The two men were convicted on their own plea by presiding judge Justice Jonathan Nunoo.
A third suspect, known only as Nana, believed to be the mastermind behind the operation, remains at large.
The prosecution, led by Inspector Bernice Nyarkowah, revealed that on the night of July 9, 2025, Fosu and Nana conspired to steal cables from Young Rui Company at Gomoa Mprumen, near Winneba in the Central Region.
To execute the plan, they enlisted Sadick, who owns a tricycle, to assist with transporting the stolen items. At approximately 12:30 a.m. the following day, the group cut power cables from transmission poles supplying the company, making away with copper wiring valued at GH¢81,000, along with two car batteries worth GH¢2,000.
But their escape was short-lived. While attempting to transport the stolen goods to Sadick’s scrap shop at Gomoa Ankamu, the suspects encountered police officers at a checkpoint near Simbrofo. On spotting the police, the men abandoned the tricycle and attempted to flee. Fosu and Sadick were arrested shortly after; Nana evaded capture.
During investigations, Fosu confessed and led officers to the crime scene. Both he and Sadick admitted to the theft during questioning.
The presiding judge described the crime as a serious act of sabotage against public infrastructure and warned that such offences would be met with stiff penalties to deter others.
The case has reignited concerns over the rampant theft of public utility infrastructure, which ECG says continues to disrupt power supply and cost the company millions of cedis each year.
Meanwhile, police say efforts are underway to apprehend Nana and bring him to justice.
