An abandoned information communication technology (ICT) centre at Adidome, capital of Central Tongu District in the Volta Region has been burgled by thieves.
The burglary was discovered when players of a local football club in town, Unity Stars went weeding around the premises of the centre as part of their activities keep the environment clean.
A visit to the facility on Tuesday, July 31 revealed that the back door to the facility had been forced open and left ajar after the thieves had stolen virtually everything including two ceiling fans from the facility leaving photocopier covered in dust, tables and chairs.
The $100,000 facility financed by MTN and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was built in 2012 and equipped with 20 new desktop computers, a photocopier and other peripherals, has been used for less than a year and left to deteriorate over management issues.
District Chief Executive of the area, Thomas Zonyra Moore last year, spoke of collaborating with stakeholders especially the chief, Torgbe Adzimah IV under whose care the facility was entrusted to find a lasting managerial solution to the facility.
Most schools at Adidome including Comboni R.C School (80 meters away from the centre) lack access to computers making the pupils virtually learning the ICT subject in abstract.
A Unity Star player, Charles Fiagbenu recounted, “when the weeding was getting closer to the building from the roadside, I saw a louver in the window broken and that caught my attention to look into the room and I realised the computers were not on the tables as they used to. I then went to the back of the building and realised the toilet door and the main computer hall doors have been opened and I drew the attention of my friends and they came to see it.”
“We have since lodged a formal complaint at the police station,” he added.
The DCE in an interview with Freelance Journalist, Fred Duhoe confirmed the incident saying, it was unfortunate.
“This shouldn’t have happened in the first place if the place was in use. The thieves took advantage of the neglect and went to break in which is very unfortunate.”
He however said “the director of the district assembly is yet to make formal complaint at the police station on behalf of the assembly since the assembly has a stake in the facility”.
Meanwhile, checks at Adidome Police Station revealed that the Police have received reports of the robbery and begun investigations.
By: Fred Duhoe/voltaonlinegh.com
