The Tamale District Court 1 has issued a stern warning against illegal power connections by sentencing Wahab Shiraz to six months in prison with hard labour, without the option of a fine.

Presiding over the case, His Worship Justice Derrick Annan also imposed a fine of 500 penalty units, equivalent to GHS 6,000, to be paid to the state.

Additionally, the court ordered Shiraz to pay GHS 10,096.55 to the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo), which represents the estimated value of the electricity he had stolen.

The court stipulated that if Shiraz fails to pay the GH¢6,000 fine, he would face an additional seven months in prison, potentially extending his total jail term to 13 months.

Shiraz, a resident of Bulpella in Tamale, pleaded guilty to the charge of “interference with electricity distribution system” under Rule 41(2A) and 1(6) of the Electricity Supply and Distribution Rules 2005 (L.I. 1816). 

His illegal activities were uncovered during NEDCo’s Mass Revenue Mobilisation Exercise in December 2023.

After receiving an illegal connection notice and failing to report for investigation, Shiraz’s case was referred to the Tamale police, leading to his prosecution and conviction.

Following the sentencing, NEDCo’s legal representative, Ms. Esther Yirbom, urged the public to avoid illegal power connections and to take advantage of NEDCo’s resolution options. 

She highlighted that suspects who cooperate by paying for stolen power and signing a bond of good behaviour might face reduced penalties if their cases go to court.

Ms. Yirbom emphasised that while these measures do not absolve the offense, they could mitigate the severity of punishment. 

She warned against illegal power connections to avoid severe consequences similar to those faced by Shiraz.

Atlantic Lithium, an exploration and development company, has promised to channel one per cent of its mining revenue to develop the catchment communities in Mfantseman. 

Aaron Monver, the Head of Operations at the Atlantic Lithium, said the company prioritised the wellbeing of its working environment, hence the need to assist the people to improve their livelihoods remained high on its agenda. 

To succeed in that regard, the company had planned to establish a community development fund to support development projects in the community. 

Mr Monver said this in the ‘scoping report and draft terms of the reference’ for the proposed Ewoyaa lithium mining and processing project by Barari DV Ghana Limited at Ewoyaa in the Central Region. 

The meeting, organised by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), was to allow Atlantic Lithium to interact with the communities on lithium mining as part of the environmental process to secure operational permits. 

It was also to solicit views, feedback and recommendations from the catchment communities on the proposed project for consensus building. 

The Operation Manager entreated the people to embrace the new opportunities to be created through the project as the country believed in local participation and content.  

Atlantic lithium, Mr Monver said, was focused on engaging in responsible mining to bring improvements to the locals and country as a whole.  

 He said stakeholders should collectively put in measures to support the project to achieve its objectives. 

Lithium demand is forecast to grow exponentially in line with the adoption of electric vehicles to ensure energy storage to meet global climate change objectives. 

Ghana has granted a lithium mining license to Atlantic Lithium Limited as the country positions itself to tap into the multibillion-dollar global industry. 

The 15-year lease to Barari DV Ghana Limited, a unit of the Sydney-based company, enables it to start constructing a lithium mine at a 42.6-kilometre site at Ewoyaa in the country’s Central Region. 

It comes after almost six years of exploration that has discovered high-grade lithium in commercial quantities as soon as the EPA and the Minerals Commission grant environmental permits to fully begin mining.  

The Ashanti Regional Police Command has arrested three individuals for impersonating police officers during Tuesday’s district assembly and unit committee elections in Asawase.

The suspects have since been remanded into police custody for further investigation.

The suspects, 37-year-old Zakari Yakubu, 24-year-old Godsway Fiakodzo, and 26-year-old Ibrahim Zack, were apprehended at Sawaba New Site polling stations A and B.

Dressed in black outfits with body jackets, pepper sprays, jack knives, and five pairs of handcuffs, the trio was swiftly arrested by the police upon suspicion of impersonation.

Two motorcycles belonging to the accused were also impounded.

Inspector Frank Osae, the investigator, ensured a prompt court appearance for the suspects.

They have been charged with “falsely pretending to be public officers” and have been remanded into police custody.

The case has been adjourned to January 6, 2024.