Over 1,000 ultrasonic meters also known as smart water meters installed by the Ghana Water Limited (GWL) have been stolen across 103 districts since the beginning of this year.

This is costing the GWL more than GH¢4 million to replace the stolen smart meters as it cost GH¢4,000 each.

Apart from the meters, other accessories such as stop corks and safety valves have also been stolen.

Suspected thieves were said to have sold a sack full of stop corks and safety valves at GH¢100 meanwhile a single stop cork is valued at GH¢100.

According to the GWL, the metre theft issue has been going on for years with the company bearing the cost of replacing stolen metres for customers.

The company has warned offenders to desist from such acts or face the law.

Metre theft

The situation, however, led personnel of the GWL Accra East District to visit Pantang, where residents at the Pantang Hospital had arrested a suspected thief in the act of stealing a meter at 3pm on Tuesday May, 20.

 A water meter installed

The Communication Manager for GWL Accra East, Nana Yaw Barnie, led journalists to Pantang and explained that the recent arrest by vigilant residents of the Pantang Hospital highlighted the problem, as the thief was caught with 16 stolen stop corks and safety valves.

He said the suspect was currently being held at the Adenta Police Station awaiting prosecution.

“There are people going round, stealing our meters. Sometimes they only cut the stop corks and leave the meter. If there is a safety valve, they cut it and throw the meter somewhere,” he said.

He said the increase in meter theft in Agbogba District which covers the Agbogba community, Pantang, SDA, and areas in Adenta was disheartening.

He indicated that this year alone, about 60 meters have been stolen in Agbogba District which is one of the 11 districts within the Accra East Region.

Mr Barnie urged residents to be on the lookout and report any suspicious activities to help combat the thefts.

“We are appealing to all residents to be on the lookout. The thief caught had 16 of these stopcorks and safety valves with him, he would have continued stealing if not caught” he said.

He said the GWL would investigate the extent of the theft problem across the country and develop a comprehensive strategy to address it.

A Senior Estate Officer at the Pantang Hospital, David Kesseh, who reported the theft,  said the suspect was caught on Tuesday afternoon at the one of their wards after being alerted by a client.

When questioned, he said the suspect admitted to stealing stop corks and safety valves from Abukobi and continued at the Pantang Hospital because what he had was not enough.

He said to prevent future thefts, the hospital plans to install burglar-proof around the meters.

He warned offenders to stop stealing meters from the hospital threatening legal consequences if they continue.

A resident at Pantang PnT, Saheed Usman Larry, who has been a victim of the theft,  expressed satisfaction for the arrest and said his CCTV camera had some days earlier captured the activity of the suspected thief.

He indicated that the theft in the area was a recurring issue, with multiple properties affected.

He called on the GWL and the Police to work to address the stealing of meters in the area.