An Accra Circuit Court on Wednesday denied a bail application for a painter accused of stealing electrical cables at the Bank of Ghana building at Ridge in Accra.
Ahmed Mohammed Lawal is accused of stealing assorted copper cables worth GH¢1,035,500. He has denied the charges of unlawful entry and stealing.
At an Accra Circuit Court on Wednesday, Lawal‘s lawyer, Nii Martey Korley, applied for bail for his client, arguing that he was not a flight risk and had a fixed place of abode at Accra Newtown.
The defense counsel stated that Lawal was gainfully employed and had cooperated with police investigations.
Additionally, the defense counsel emphasized that his client had independent sureties “who are of substance” and were willing to ensure his attendance in court whenever required.
Counsel further pointed out that Lawal had spent over a month in custody and needed to be granted bail to adequately prepare his defense for trial.
The prosecution, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Augustin Kingsley Oppong, did not oppose the bail request, leaving the decision to the court.
The prosecution informed the court that the police were close to concluding their investigations and that the accused had refunded GH¢2,000.
However, the police had yet to recover the stolen cables.
The relieving judge, Isaac Addo, ruled, “Application for bail is refused; accused person to remain in custody.”
The complainants in the case, Samuel Nii Tettey and Davidson Mensah Otinkorang, are safety officers and electrical engineers, respectively, at the new Bank of Ghana building, where construction work is ongoing.
ASP Oppong stated that on February 16, 2025, the complainants discovered that someone had broken into the Energy Farm at the site and stolen quantities of 1c x 240 and 1c x 300 square copper cables, all valued at GH¢1,035,500.
A review of the Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footage showed the accused and two others stealing the copper cables from the Energy Farm, where bundles of electrical cables had been stored.
The prosecution stated that the complainants apprehended the accused and handed him over to the police.
Investigations revealed that the accused and two others, who are currently at large, gained access to the Energy Farm using a scaffold. They cut the copper cables with a sharp object and carried them away.
Further investigations showed that the cables were sold to a buyer at Kwame Nkrumah Circle, and the accused received GH¢2,000 as his share.
However, Lawal was unable to assist the police in arresting his accomplices or the “dishonest receiver.”
The case has been adjourned to April 2, 2025.