Emmanuel Kwaku Nyamekye, a 23-year-old resident of Ayigbe, Nsawam, has been sentenced to 20 months in jail and fined GH¢4,800 for stealing a meter from the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL).

If he fails to pay the fine, he will serve an additional 18 months.

Additionally, he must pay GH¢1,300 to GWCL.

The GWCL has intensified surveillance against criminals targeting its infrastructure.

Last year for instance, Abraham Asare, a former GWCL employee, and Victor Moris were each sentenced to four years by the Akuapem Mampong Circuit Court for stealing 23 pieces of 8-inch ductile iron pipes, worth approximately GH¢299,000.

They were caught in Larteh-Akuapem while loading the stolen pipes onto a truck. Their accomplices, Ali Musah and Paul Amoako, pleaded not guilty and have been remanded.

Kwadwo Daase, the Public Relations Officer of GWCL in the Eastern Region, highlighted the broader issue of theft facing the company, including meter theft and the removal of metallic covers and electric cables. GWCL is actively working to protect its infrastructure from such criminal activities.

Utility companies in the Eastern Region continue to suffer huge losses to stealing of equipment including electricity transformers, meters, cables and other infrastructure.