A 52-year-old former employee who voluntarily resigned from the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) in 2022, has found himself in police custody in Larteh-Akuapem, Eastern Region.
Abraham Asare’s arrest comes amid allegations related to activities following his departure from the company, raising questions about potential misconduct during his tenure at GWCL.
Asare is facing allegations of pilfering 23 units of 8-inch ductile iron pipes, integral components of a vital water distribution mainline catering to the needs of local residents.
Responding to an urgent distress call, the police thwarted Asare and his accomplices as they loaded the purloined pipes onto a KIA truck bearing registration number ER 587-20 at approximately 6:30 pm on December 12, 2023.
The estimated cost of one 8-inch ductile iron pipe is approximately GHC13,000, resulting in a total value of GHC299,000 for the stolen items.
According to the Public Relations Officer of GWCL in Eastern Region, Kwadwo Daase, the arrest sheds light on the broader challenges faced by the company, including incidents of meter theft, removal of metallic covers for its chambers, and pilfering of electric cables from its plants.
The GWCL continues to grapple with safeguarding its infrastructure against such criminal activities.