A Tarkwa Magistrate Court has sentenced a 26-year-old illegal miner, Prince Awuah, to 16 months imprisonment with hard labour after he pleaded guilty to charges of unlawful entry and causing damage.
The ruling was delivered by Mr. Charles Owusu Nsiah, who presided over the Tarkwa District Magistrate Court One. Awuah was convicted on his own plea.
According to Police Sergeant Enoch Assan-Donkoh, who prosecuted the case, the incident occurred in Aboso, where the complainant, Solomon Donkor, resides with his family. The accused, Awuah, lives in a nearby suburb called Ndadieso.
The prosecution recounted that on April 19, 2025, around 10:30 p.m., Mr. Donkor and his family retired to bed after locking their doors. However, at approximately 2:00 a.m., the complainant’s elder brother, who also serves as a key witness in the case, woke up for prayer and noticed smoke filling his room.
Upon stepping outside, the witness was shocked to find Awuah attempting to set the house ablaze. “He had lit some clothes on fire and was trying to spread the flames to the electricity meter box, clearly intending to destroy the entire house,” the prosecution said.
The witness quickly raised an alarm, attracting neighbours, including the complainant. Together, they managed to apprehend Awuah and handed him over to the police at Aboso, where a formal complaint was lodged.
Police conducted a search on Awuah and found a lighter in his possession. During interrogation, he admitted to the crime and blamed his actions on intoxication from alcohol and Indian hemp.
The court found the admission and evidence sufficient to convict him and sentenced him accordingly.
