A painter working on the new Bank of Ghana building at Ridge in Accra has been remanded in custody for allegedly stealing copper cables valued at GH₵1,035,500. Ahmed Mohammed Lawal appeared before an Accra Circuit Court on charges of unlawful entry and stealing, pleading not guilty.
The incident came to light on February 16, 2025, when Samuel Nii Tettey (safety officer) and Davidson Mensah Otinkorang (electrical engineer) at the construction site discovered the theft of significant quantities of LC x 240 square and LC x 300 square copper cables.
According to Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Augustin Kingsley Oppong, the prosecution's case rests heavily on CCTV footage. The video allegedly shows Lawal and two unidentified accomplices entering the Energy Farm on the site, cutting the cables with a sharp object, and making off with the stolen goods.
The court heard that Lawal was apprehended after the CCTV review and subsequently handed over to the police. Investigations revealed that Lawal and his accomplices used scaffolding to access the Energy Farm where bundles of electrical cables were stored. Lawal allegedly admitted to selling his share of the stolen cables at Kwame Nkrumah Circle for GH₵2,000. However, he has been unable to assist police in apprehending his accomplices or the individual who purchased the stolen cables.
Presiding over the case, Mrs. Sedinam Awo Kwadam adjourned the matter to March 19, 2025, to allow for ongoing investigations into the whereabouts of Lawal's accomplices and the receiver of the stolen goods. The police have assured the court that efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining suspects. The scale of the theft underscores a significant security breach at the high-profile construction site.
