Church elder flees with patient’s cash

Christopher Yaw Asamoah, an elder of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) at Chiraa, near Sunyani in the Brong-Ahafo Region, is reported to have bolted away with over GH¢4,000 meant for a 4-year-old hole-in-heart patient.

Elder Yaw Asamoah vanished into thin air after taking the unspecified amount which he collected from churches, corporate organisations and individuals on behalf of the family of hole-in-heart patient, Emmanuella Gyamfuaah.

Little Emmanuella has been diagnosed with hole-in-heart and is supposed to undergo a heart surgery at the National Cardiothoracic Centre at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital at a total cost of GH¢24,000.

The Ghana Heart Foundation is however, footing half of the bill, leaving GH¢12,000 to be funded by her parents who are peasant farmers.

The fate of the little girl now hangs in the balance as his condition keeps deteriorating due to the delay in having the surgery performed.

A senior brother of the patient, Nana Abrefa Kumi, who confirmed the incident to DAILY GUIDE, said Elder Yaw Asamoah works as an announcer at an Information Centre at Chiraa. Due to his position, he was asked by the girl’s family to collect all donations towards the surgery.

According to Nana Abrefa, the elder acknowledged and announced the various donors and the amount given on air from time to time.

Nana Abrefa said his father personally handed to the elder an amount of GH¢2,000 being contributions by some individuals.

He indicated that Accra-based Asempa FM and Ark FM in Sunyani were also soliciting funds on their networks to support the family.

Emmanuella’s brother hinted DAILY GUIDE that about a month ago, Asempa FM called the family and informed them that they had collected a total of GH¢6,000 to support the surgery.

The family then went to the elder to ask him to account for what he had collected and add it to that collected by the radio stations.

However, instead of accounting for what he had realized, Mr. Yaw Asamoah allegedly kept giving excuses.

Nana Abrefa Kumi said the family became worried about the attitude of the elder and reported him to the owner of the information centre. When he was questioned by his manager, Elder Yaw Asamoah lied to the manager that he had already given the money to the family.

The family made a complaint with his pastor to intervene, and he made a lot of efforts to retrieve the money but to no avail as the elder vacated the town to an unknown destination and could not be reached on his mobile phone.

The matter was finally reported to the police who have launched a manhunt for his arrest. He is believed to be hiding in Accra.