The Juaso Circuit Court presided over by Mr Frederick Tetteh has fined five residents of Nobewam, near Konongo in the Ashanti Region GH¢1,800 for destroying the properties of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and also attacking some staff members of the company.
Besides, they were bonded to be of good behaviour for one year and further ordered to replace the company’s damaged properties.
The convicts, Sulley Issah, Daniel Sika, Doris Serwah, Kofi Elijah and Kwame Tutu, were found guilty on the counts of rioting, resisting lawful arrest, assaulting a public official, causing unlawful damage, offensive conduct and conspiracy to commit crime.
They pleaded guilty to all the counts.
Hostile attitude the Konongo Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Alex Amenyo, said on March 3, this year, the police had a call from a team of revenue collectors of the ECG who had gone to town on a revenue collection and disconnection exercise but encountered the hostile attitude of some of the local people.
He said the group, led by Tutu, prevented them from undertaking their work.
According to him, the people claimed they were not getting constant power supply and did not see why the company should demand money from them for no service rendered.
He said he quickly dispatched three men who were on duty near Juaso to respond to the emergency.
However, when the team got there; they were also attacked by the mob who had vandalised plastic chairs and a cashier's table.
Police reinforcement The team, thus, called for reinforcement.
Mr Amenyo said additional men from the divisional command who were sent there managed to restore calm and arrested four of the rioters.
The group leader, however, escaped.
Tutu, who instigated the attack on the staff of the ECG, was later arrested and charged with the offence.
The Ashanti Regional Public Relations Manager of the company, Mr Erasmus Kyere Baidoo, commended the police for their support.
He said the conviction of the rioters should send a signal to others that the ECG would not be intimidated by anyone on its quest to retrieve debts owed it.
He said the company was affected by the ongoing energy crisis and would not allow its staff to be used as scapegoats.
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