Police in the Ashanti region have successfully apprehended two individuals suspected of stealing water supply meters belonging to the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) in the Suame Municipality. The arrests come amid a worrying trend of water meter thefts affecting local residents and businesses alike.
The two suspects, whose identities are being withheld for security reasons, were intercepted by a watch committee formed by the Unit Committee of New Suame after community members reported suspicious activities.
Mr. Ebenezer Padi Narh, the Ashanti Regional Public Relations Officer for GWCL, shared that the region has been grappling with an alarming spike in meter theft incidents. “This year alone, we have received approximately 71 reports of meter theft from customers in the region,” he revealed.
Complaints had escalated among residents of the Suame Municipality about the frequency of meter thefts, prompting the Unit Committees to establish watchdog groups aimed at curbing the criminal activity.
“This morning, we received information from New Suame regarding the Unit Committee’s operations against suspected thieves,” Mr. Narh explained. “The community was facing ongoing issues with meters being stolen on a daily basis. To address this, the volunteers within the community decided to identify and confront those they believed were involved.”
According to Mr. Narh, the volunteer committee pursued three young men carrying sacks. While one suspect managed to flee, the committee successfully detained two individuals and recovered three stolen water meters and taps from their possession.
This incident underscores the need for heightened community vigilance and cooperation in fighting crime, particularly as water meter theft continues to plague the area. GWCL has urged residents to remain alert and report any suspicious activities to the authorities to help protect public resources.
Godwin Owusu Frimpong
