Nsuta Circuit Court jails pastor 10 years for fraud
The Nsuta Circuit Court in the Ashanti Region has sentenced a 32-year-old junior pastor to 10 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to defrauding a teacher of GHC78,800 in a fake overseas employment scheme.
Stephen Yaw Gyamfi, a junior pastor at Blessed Gate Worship Centre in Mim in the Ahafo Region, was convicted of defrauding by false pretences.
The sentence was handed down by the presiding judge, Simon Nketiah Gagah, on Friday (7 August).
Brief facts
According to the prosecution, Gyamfi was introduced to 41-year-old teacher Abigail Darkwah in January 2025 by her colleague, Collin Sackey, who told her about an alleged opportunity to secure a teaching job in Malaysia.
Gyamfi allegedly demanded $4,300, equivalent to GHC73,100 at an exchange rate of GHC17 to the dollar, purportedly to cover visa processing and airfare.
Darkwah initially paid GHC15,000, leaving a balance of GHC58,100. Gyamfi subsequently requested her passport, claiming it was needed for the travel arrangements.
About a month later, he allegedly told Darkwah that her visa had been secured but would expire within six months.
She then paid the outstanding GHC58,100. Gyamfi further demanded GHC3,800 for a hotel reservation and GHC1,900 for travel insurance, bringing the total amount paid to GHC78,800.
The prosecution said Gyamfi disappeared after receiving the money.
Darkwah subsequently reported the matter to the Regional Criminal Investigations Department in Mampong.
Investigators later established that Gyamfi was hiding in Mim in the Ahafo Region. A police wireless message was sent to the Mim Police, leading to his arrest at his hideout on 22 June 2026.
He was subsequently transferred to the Mampong police CID for further investigations.
During questioning, Gyamfi admitted the offence in his cautioned statement, the prosecution told the court.
The court later gave him an opportunity to refund the money to Darkwah, but he paid only GHC10,000, leaving an outstanding balance of GHC68,800.
The court ordered the prosecution to release the GHC10,000 to Darkwah and advised her to pursue a civil action to recover the remaining amount after Gyamfi’s release from prison.
In sentencing him to 10 years, the court said the punishment was intended to deter others, noting the increasing prevalence of fraudulent travel and employment schemes in society.
