A driver’s mate who stole four laptops, their chargers, a Bluetooth speaker, and a table-top fridge from the Ministry of Finance has been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.
Isaac Peprah, 26, pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing at the Adabraka District Court and was convicted on his own plea.
However, Peprah denied charges of unlawful entry to commit crime, namely stealing, and causing unlawful damage. The trial judge, Mrs Abena Owusu Omenyo, struck out the two charges following his conviction and sentencing.
The prosecution also indicated it would no longer pursue those charges after the guilty plea.
Peprah, also known as “Happiness,” is said to have unlawfully entered the premises of the Ministry of Finance Annex “E” Treasury Block on August 17, 2025, at about 5:00 am, and made away with the items.
The recovered laptops were later returned to Ministry of Finance personnel who were present in court.
Chief Inspector Apeweh Achana, who led the prosecution, told the court that the complainant, Mahmud Ahmed, is the Acting Head of Security at the Ministry of Finance. Peprah resides at Kokomba, Agbogbloshie.
On the day of the incident, Peprah climbed the fence wall of the Annex “E” block and gained access by damaging five louvre blades. He then entered one of the first-floor offices and stole two Dell laptops.
He also found keys in the office, which he used to open another room, from where he stole a Dell and a Lenovo laptop with their chargers, a Westpool table-top fridge, and a Bluetooth speaker.
According to the prosecution, Peprah carried the fridge to the car park and hid it in a corner before leaving the premises with a bag containing the laptops.
His movements drew suspicion when a jogger and a resident returning home questioned him about the contents of the bag. Realising danger, Peprah fled towards the Ghana Revenue Authority Customs Division Head Office.
The jogger raised an alarm which drew the attention of Customs Officer Emmanuel Teye and his colleagues, who joined in the chase. Peprah abandoned the bag containing the laptops during the pursuit.
He was eventually apprehended in front of the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment and escorted to the Ministries Police Station along with the laptops.
Peprah later led the police to where he had hidden the fridge, which was also retrieved.
In his caution statement, taken in the presence of an independent witness, Peprah admitted to the offence.
Source: GNA