Four sentenced for refusing to contribute towards the provision of water

Suhum, March 9, GNA - The Suhum Magistrate court, presided over by Mr E.M. Essandoh, has imposed a total of eight hundred thousand cedis fine on four people who failed to pay their community water rate. The accused persons were Elizabeth Amponsah, Odoi Laweh, Tetteh Williams and Tei Ebenezer.

They were charged with failing to pay their community water rate. They pleaded guilty with explanation but their explanation was not accepted by the court and each was fined 200,000 cedis or in default, two months imprisonment.

According to the Prosecutor, Mr Philip Tawiah, Senior Environmental Officer, the accused persons live at Supreso, a farming community near Suhum in the Eastern Region and that the Suhum Kraboa/Coaltar District Assembly constructed a number of boreholes for the people of Supreso and that each adult person of the community was expected to pay two thousand cedis every month towards the maintenance and repairs of the boreholes.

He said the accused persons who also fetch some of the water refused to pay their water rate last year which accumulate to 24,000 cedis each. Mr Tawiah said the local committee members of the water and sanitation committee in the village after several demands, reported to the District Co-ordinators of the Water and Sanitation, Mr Gershon Hiamedey and Mr Raymond Agbodo who issued the accused persons with sermons.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mr Essandoh who expressed concern about the behaviour of the accused person said since water is essential for life, everybody need to contribute towards the provision of potable water.

He warned that any person brought before the court on similar offences would not be speared.