A 20-year-old small scale miner, Issah Rahman, has been sentenced to 24 months imprisonment in hard labour by the Tarkwa Circuit Court for stealing GH¢4,300 from a drinking bar at the Tarkwa Railway station. Rahman, who pleaded guilty to the offence, has a previous conviction for causing harm from the Tarkwa District Court. The court took into account Rahaman's previous conviction and the prevalence of stealing in the Tarkwa Railway community when determining his sentence.
According to the prosecution, the complainant, Augustus Handson Nuertey, a businessman from Akyempim, operated a drinking bar at the Tarkwa Railway station. Rahman, who lived in Akoon, entered the bar on February 24, 2026, at about 4:00 am, under the pretext of buying a drink. He then opened the drawer and stole a cash sum of GH¢4,300, which was the sales for the previous night.
The complainant and his salesgirl, Jennifer Anyimedu, were asleep at the time of the theft. However, the complainant had installed a Closed-Circuit Television Camera (CCTC) in the bar, which captured Rahman stealing the money. The complainant identified Rahman in the video and later arrested him at the Akoon community mine on the same day.
Rahman was handed over to the police to aid investigations. The prosecution was led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Joseph Lartey, who presented the case to the Tarkwa Circuit Court. The court found Rahman guilty and sentenced him to 24 months imprisonment in hard labour.
The sentence was handed down by the Tarkwa Circuit Court, which has jurisdiction over cases in the Western Region of Ghana. The court is one of the busiest in the region, handling a wide range of cases, including criminal and civil matters. The court's decision to sentence Rahman to 24 months imprisonment in hard labour reflects the seriousness with which it views the offence of stealing.
Stealing is a common problem in many parts of Ghana, including the Tarkwa Railway community. The community has experienced a high incidence of theft, which has led to concerns about safety and security. The sentence handed down to Rahman is expected to serve as a deterrent to others who may be tempted to engage in similar behaviour.
The case highlights the importance of installing security measures, such as CCTC cameras, to prevent and detect crime. It also underscores the need for the police and other law enforcement agencies to work effectively to investigate and prosecute cases of stealing and other crimes.
Key points
- The 20-year-old miner was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment in hard labour for stealing GH¢4,300 from a drinking bar at the Tarkwa Railway station.
- The court considered Rahaman's previous conviction and the prevalence of stealing in the community when determining his sentence.
- The case highlights the importance of security measures, such as CCTC cameras, in preventing and detecting crime.
