Hohoe (V/R), July 2, GNA – Ramatu Awal, a Hohoe-based waakye seller has been fined 120 penalty units (GH₵1,440) by the Hohoe Magistrate Court for putting up a house without a development permit.
She pleaded guilty to the charges and was convicted on her own plea, she will serve 12 months in prison if she fails to pay the fine.
The Court, presided over by Madam Edith Lucy Dzormeku, also awarded a cost of GH₵1,000 against the convict as compensation to be paid to the Hohoe Municipal Assembly.
Mr Frank Azila-Gbettor, Prosecuting, told the Court that the convict was constructing a dwelling house at Gbi-Bla (Adubayeme).
He said on January 20, 2020, Development Control Taskforce of the Assembly on an official duty to check development projects realized, the convict had put up a house which she was occupying without a development permit.
The Prosecution said the Taskforce further saw that the accused was putting up a 3-bedroom hall and chamber where she was advised and asked to stop work and obtain permits for the two buildings while a warning notice was written on one of the structures.
He said on June 5, the Taskforce revisited the site and saw that the inscription on the structure has been wiped with the convict continuing with her construction works on the structure up to the lentil level.
Mr Azila-Gbettor said a final warning letter was issued to the convict on July 7, asking her to produce her permit documents but she failed to do so.
He said on March 22, 2021, the convict was served with a court summons to serve as deterrent to others.
The convict however explained that she did not clean the inscriptions on the wall but went to the office of the Assembly and submitted the documents for approval.
GNA