Before sentencing, Pastor Love pleaded for leniency and expressed his willingness to pay any imposed fines. However, the court, presided over by Isaac Addo, noted that Pastor Love was a first-time offender but emphasized that, as a pastor, he was expected to maintain a high level of integrity, particularly in matters of trust. Consequently, the court deemed the 48-month sentence appropriate as a deterrent.
The case, as presented by ASP Frimpong, began in 2016 when Samuel Amankwah, a resident of the U.S., shipped a 4x4 vehicle to Ghana and entrusted Pastor Love with clearing it from the port. After clearing the vehicle at his own expense, Pastor Love was instructed to sell it for $50,000 and deduct the duties he had paid.
However, Amankwah later requested that Pastor Love hold off on the sale until his arrival in Ghana to reimburse him. When Amankwah arrived in April 2017 and sought his vehicle, Pastor Love was unable to produce it despite repeated requests.
Following this, Amankwah lodged a complaint with the police, leading to Pastor Love’s arrest in May 2017. During questioning, he claimed to have taken a loan of GH¢40,000 at a 20 percent interest rate to clear the vehicle. He then admitted to selling it for GH¢80,000 without the owner's consent, using GH¢70,000 to pay off the loan.
The judge criticized Pastor Love for being dishonest with the court, noting his failure to provide evidence to support his claims or identify the buyer of the vehicle.
Credit:Graphic Online.
