8 People Arrested For Stealing Water

sQuashie

December 30, 2014 12:12 PM

Police in Legon have arrested eight persons who prevented residents of Agjiringano and surrounding areas from enjoying water from Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL).

Residents have had to rely on the services of the suspects for water as their pipelines have been dry for months.

The Legon District Police Commander, DSP Emmanuel Basintale informed Joy News that the exercise was carried out after a request for assistance by the GWCL.

The exercise, according to him, spanned two days and saw to the arrest of the eight suspects and seizure of some trucks involved in the illegal tapping of GWCL lines without the knowledge of the company.

He further revealed that some of the suspects were found to have constructed underground tanks for storing their ill-gotten water and that they had been selling the water to the unsuspecting residents at a higher fee.

DSP Basintale assured the public that the suspects, despite already being granted bail, would certainly face the full rigors of the law.

Meanwhile Government has asked that residents of Adenta and its environs who are still not receiving water get plumbers to fix leakages on pipelines to their homes which have been rendered weak as a result of years of non-utilisation.

Last week President Mahama turned on the valves at the Kpong Headworks to resume supply of 20 million gallons of water to residents of Adenta and surrounding areas after more than a decade.

Yet days after the valves were turned on, some residents still complain they do not have access to water, prompting a government fact-finding team to visit the area.

Deputy Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing Jonny Osei Kofi who led the team, insisted that the water flowing in the area is consistent but suggested that faults had developed in the pipes laid in residences because “they have not seen water in decades”.

The deputy minister in addressing the problem suggested that domestic pipelines which have been damaged be repaired by local plumbers at the discretion of residents, while affirming Government’s commitment to making the necessary repairs on faulty mainlines.

H/T - MyJoyOnline.com

sQuashie