Woman jailed two years for stealing church items

An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced a 32-year-old unemployed woman to two years’ imprisonment for stealing assorted items from a church at the 48 Engineer Barracks at Teshie.

The convict, Amanda Pascal, pleaded guilty to charges of unlawful entry and stealing.

The court, presided over by Mrs Basilia Adjei-Tawiah, convicted her on her own plea and sentenced her to two years’ imprisonment on each count, to run concurrently.

The prosecution said the items stolen included a deep fryer valued at GHC1,500; a Bluetooth speaker worth GHC3,423; 21 trumpet mouthpieces valued at GHC6,820; a perfume valued at GHC586; and six tins of sardines valued at GHC200, all belonging to Veronica Owusu Boateng, the complainant.

Amanda was arrested after the church’s CCTV camera captured her entering the complainant’s room during a church service and leaving with bags containing the stolen items.

However, drama erupted during proceedings when the trial judge asked whether the convict had any previous convictions.

Although the case investigator indicated she had been jailed by the LEKMA District Court, Amanda told the court she had previously been convicted and sentenced by the same Circuit Court to nine months’ imprisonment.

The judge cautioned her to take advantage of rehabilitation programmes within the Ghana Prisons Service and turn her life around, particularly as she had young children.

The court heard that only the deep fryer and the Bluetooth speaker were retrieved. Amanda pleaded with the court for time, stating that she was preparing for an outdooring ceremony in March.

Chief Inspector Abigail Offeibea told the court that the complainant, an emergency medical personnel member at the 37 Military Hospital, resided at the Teshie Barracks, while the convict, a Nigerian national, lived at Teshie Lascala.

The prosecution said that on 15 February 2026, the complainant was informed after a church service that 21 trumpet mouthpieces kept for safekeeping were missing. Upon checking her room, she realised that other items had also been stolen.

A review of the church’s CCTV footage showed Amanda, who had been frequenting the barracks, entering the room during the service and later exiting with the items. The matter was reported to the police, and a search was launched.

Amanda was spotted in the neighbourhood on 17 February, arrested, and taken to the police station together with the retrieved items. In her caution statement, she admitted the offence and said she had used some of the remaining items and discarded the trumpet mouthpieces.