A Tarkwa District Court One has sentenced a motorbike mechanic, Godfred Atta Hagan, to six months imprisonment with hard labour after he was found guilty of stealing a deliveryman’s Royal motorbike valued at GH¢13,000.

Hagan, who resides at Tamso Compound, pleaded guilty and was convicted on his own plea by the presiding judge, Charles Owusu Nsiah.

According to the prosecution, led by Sergeant Enoch Assan-Donkoh, the complainant, Isaac Mensah Mbeah, a delivery rider living at Tamso, parked his Royal motorbike with registration number M-25-WT278 at his shop near the Tamso Municipal Assembly Basic School on April 16, 2025.

Later that night, around 1:00 a.m., he discovered the motorbike had been stolen.

A witness informed Mbeah that Hagan had been seen riding the stolen bike away. The matter was reported to the Tarkwa police, and Hagan subsequently went into hiding.

On May 11, 2025, police received a tip-off that he was lodging at a friend’s house, leading to his arrest.

During interrogation, Hagan led the police to the home of an accomplice known as Gucci, who is currently on the run. The stolen motorbike was recovered from the location.

What Does The Law Says?

Under Section 124 of Ghana’s Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), stealing is defined as dishonestly taking property without consent and with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of it.

The penalty depends on the value of the item stolen:

• If the item is of high value (such as GH¢13,000 in this case), the offender can face a fine, imprisonment, or both.

• Courts often impose custodial sentences (prison terms) where the theft involves significant value, breach of trust, or prior convictions.

In Hagan’s case, the court imposed six months imprisonment with hard labour, reflecting both the seriousness of the crime and his guilty plea.

His prosecution will serve as a deterrent for others.