A Circuit Court in Accra has handed down a 48-month prison sentence with hard labor to Pastor Hammond Love for stealing.
The verdict comes after a seven-year trial.
Pastor Love, formerly married to gospel musician Obaapa Christie, was found guilty of the offense. Before sentencing, a visibly distraught Pastor Love pleaded for mercy, offering to pay any imposed fine.
Judge Isaac Addo considered Pastor Love’s status as a first-time offender but emphasized the importance of integrity in matters of trust, particularly for religious leaders.
As a Pastor, Love was expected to uphold high moral standards. The 48-month jail term serves as a deterrent, reflecting the gravity of his actions.
According to ASP Frimpong, the case began in 2016 when Samuel Amankwah, a US resident, shipped a 4×4 vehicle to Ghana, entrusting Pastor Love with clearance.
Pastor Love cleared the vehicle using his funds and was instructed to sell it for $50,000, deducting his clearance expenses.
However, Amankwah later asked Pastor Love to delay the sale, intending to refund the expenses upon his arrival in Ghana.
In April 2017, Amankwah arrived and demanded his vehicle, but Pastor Love failed to produce it despite repeated requests.
A police complaint led to Pastor Love’s arrest in May 2017. During interrogation, he claimed to have secured a loan to clear the vehicle, selling it for ₵80,000 without consent.
The Judge deemed Pastor Love’s testimony dishonest, as he couldn’t provide evidence of the loan company or the vehicle’s buyer, leading to the conviction and sentencing.