A 21-year-old illegal miner has been remanded into prison custody by the Nkawie Circuit Court for allegedly breaking into Asuowin D/A Junior High School in the Ashanti Region and stealing school property valued at GH¢31,000.

The accused, Emmanuel Boakye Mensah Bekoe, is facing charges of causing unlawful damage, unlawful entry and stealing. His plea was not taken because police investigations were still ongoing.

Presiding judge Robert Addo ordered that the accused be brought back to court on October 28, 2026, to continue proceedings.

Prosecuting officer Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Frank Acheampong told the court that the complainant was the headmaster of Asuowin D/A Junior High School, while the accused was an illegal miner residing at Asuowin in the Amansie West District.

According to the prosecution, the incident was discovered on October 12, 2026, at about 7:30 a.m., when the headmaster arrived at the school and found that the metal burglar-proof door and lock to his office had been damaged.

The damaged door and lock were valued at GH¢9,500, the court heard.

A subsequent inspection revealed that several items belonging to the school were missing, including a 43-inch television set, a refrigerator, seven laptop computers, a tabletop computer and GH¢1,000 in cash.

The stolen items were valued at GH¢31,000, according to the prosecution.

The headmaster subsequently reported the incident to the Asuowin Police, who arrested Bekoe, described by the prosecution as a person known to the police, on suspicion of involvement in the theft.

ASP Acheampong told the court that, in his caution statement, the accused admitted the theft and led investigators to his room, where the television set and refrigerator were retrieved.

Following preliminary investigations, Bekoe was charged and put before the court.

The case is expected to resume on October 28, 2026, as investigations continue.

EA