A 24-year-old woman, Mawuena Tamakloe, has been sentenced to 12 months in prison by an Accra Circuit Court after pleading guilty to stealing a 50-inch Hisense UHD 4K television from the Church of Pentecost, located inside the Teshie Military Barracks in Accra.
Tamakloe was convicted on charges of unlawful entry and theft, with Judge Susan Edufful handing down concurrent 12-month sentences for each count. The stolen TV, worth GH¢8,900, was clearly marked with the church’s name.
The court heard that Tamakloe’s actions came to light when military personnel spotted her leaving the barracks with the television. Suspicious of her story, they detained her until police arrived. During questioning, she eventually confessed to the theft.
In a surprising turn, Tamakloe attempted to escape police custody after a pregnancy test confirmed she was not expecting. She bolted across a busy road, hopped into a commercial vehicle, and tried to flee. A quick pursuit ensued, aided by a motorbike rider who helped locate and apprehend her.
A charge of causing unlawful damage was dropped at the prosecution’s request. However, an inspection of the church premises revealed that the pastor’s office door had been damaged, a detail Tamakloe later admitted to in her caution statement.
While sentencing, the judge noted Tamakloe’s youth, lack of previous convictions, and show of remorse as mitigating factors but stressed the importance of accountability. She urged the young woman to use her time in prison to reflect and reform.
The case was brought to light by Elder Ebenezer Oppong Aboagye, who reported the theft.
