Police in Konongo have succeeded in arresting gangs suspected to be involved in stealing of railway lines in the region.
Police said the gang for sometimes now, have been operating in and around Juaso and some communities within the Asante-Akim South District of the Ashanti Region.
The suspected thieves are believed to have removed large quantities of the metals worth millions of Ghana cedis, leading to Police investigation into the theft
Reports from the Police at the Konongo Command indicated that, it took intelligence, vigilance and corporation from the public to arrest the suspects.
Two of the culprits, Yussif Hudu and Ibrahim Yakubu, have been sentenced to four years and three years’ imprisonment respectively by the Juaso Circuit.
Meanwhile, Konongo Divisional Police Commander Chief Superintendent Shaibu Osei, , said four other members of the syndicate, namely Tweneboah Malik, Kwadwo Gyamfi, Daniel Appiah and Samuel Baffour, are currently facing trial at the Court.
A considerable number of stolen railway lines and steel sleepers had been retrieved from the syndicate, following their arrest at separate locations within the Asante-Akim South District, the police confirmed.
The Deputy Minister of Railway Development, Mr. Kwaku Asante-Boateng, who was on a working visit to the Region, has expressed worry of the recent rise in stealing of the railway lines.
He noted that “The nation has lost so much through such thefts and those involved in such illegal business would be dealt with ruthlessly when caught”.
It would be recalled that the Deputy Minister on one of his rounds disclosed that metal theft from the railway lines is causing the country to lose over of Ghc200 million.
A situation Mr. Asante-Boateng said is serving as a stumbling block to the development and revamping of the sector, assuring that steps are being taken in retrieving some of the stolen rail tracks but could not add from who or where, but only indicated that metal theft on the railways is on the rise in Ghana, and delaying the progress on initiatives by the government.
He stressed that the destruction and stealing of rail tracks pose a threat to the country.
“The tracks belong to the state, and when caught stealing them, you would be arrested, prosecuted and jailed”.
He called for a collaborative effort between the public and the Police “to ensure that those stealing the rail tracks are arrested and prosecuted. This is the only way to stop the menace”.
