Theft at Police Station: 250 ECG Poles Stolen, Officers and Aides Under Scrutiny

Over two hundred and fifty (250) poles supplied by the Electricity Company (ECG) of Ghana for the rural electrification projects at Obuasi and New town in the Asante Akyem North Municipality has been allegedly stolen from the Agogo Police Station where it had been kept.

The items including its accompanying transformers for the two communities are also not traceable, our investigations reveal.

The issue, which has now gained public attention particularly in Obuasi as well as New Town and Agogo is creating a lot of tensions in Asante Akyem North.

Some of the residents have started accusing the Police of conniving with persons close to the former MP for the area, Andy Appiah-Kubi for allegedly stealing the items to use for same purpose at Juansa, a community where the former MP hails from.

Assembly Member:
Speaking about the issue on Salt Fm yesterday, Hon Enoch Sarfo, Assembly Member for the Obuasi electoral area said he was surprised items kept at the Police station could suddenly grow wings and fly away.

He noted that before the December 7 elections he had a phone call where it was alleged that some persons were trying to cart the poles away from the police station.

According to him, he quickly rushed to the Police Station where he together with the police officers in charge accosted the occupants of the vehicle and later drove them away.

The driver, the Assembly Member stated openly confessed that he was working with instructions from an aide to Andy Appiah-Kubi by name Derrick.

Hon Sarfo said few days later, on his way to Ejisu, he realised that a vehicle ahead of him was carrying about 60 poles similar to that which had been kept at the police station.

“I returned from Ejisu and saw that some of the logs had been stolen and despite reporting to the police abd following up, i realised that not a single pole including the accompanying transformers could be found at the Police station”, the Assembly Member noted.

Disappearance:
Speaking to this reporter on condition of anonymity, the contractor who was assigned to do the electrification project at the two towns corroborated the narrations from the Obuasi Assembly Member.

He also confirmed going to the Police Station to verify for himself if the poles were available but to his chagrin not a single pole was found.

Earlier Agreement:
According to the Obuasi Assembly Member, he and the Agogo Police Commander as well as an aide to Andy Appiah-Kubi by name “Petit” had earlier signed an undertaken that no one should come for the poles until all issues regarding the project had been resolved.

He noted that the poles for his electoral area was 170 whiles the ones meant for New Town were about 110.

Petition:
Meanwhile, the Ashanti Regional Police Command has been urged to follow up with the ongoing issue to unravel the mystery behind the disappearance of the ECG poles.

Some of the listeners on Salt FM as well ss residents of the Obuasi and New Town have called for the interdiction of the officers and men at the Agogo Police Station.

They accused them for either conniving or aiding in the stealing of the logs which were kept at their station.