Pastor remanded over police enlistment scam

A Reverend pastor, Joshua Asante of the Life Long Chapel at the border town of Nyive, in the Volta Region, was on Monday remanded by the Ho Circuit Court in connection with police enlistment scam.

Pastor Asante, 39, allegedly posed as a police detective and swindled a Senior High School (SHS) leaver of Ghc4, 450, under the pretext of enlisting her into the Ghana Police Service (GPS).  

Pastor Asante, 39, who was charged with defrauding by false pretence and his plea was not taken, would re-appear in court on March 4.  

The court, presided over by Mr Felix Datsomor, heard that the pastor had also collected large sums of money from other people assuring them of enlistment into either the GPS or the Ghana Army.  

Chief Inspector Agnes Ahiable told the court that Pastor Asante’s victim was a young woman (name withheld), who had just completed SHS, and resident at Kpetoe in the region.  

The prosecution said that in May, 2020, the victim was approached by a friend who informed her that the pastor, who was also an officer of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), at the Ho Central Police Station, had assured him that he (pastor) could help any of his family members to be recruited into the GPS.  

Chief Insp Ahiable said that that when the SHS leaver showed interest, she was introduced to Pastor Asante, who re-affirmed his status as personnel of the CID.  

The prosecution said that Pastor Asante told the young woman that he would help her to achieve her dream of becoming a police officer provided she paid him GH¢ 7,500 to facilitate the process.  

Chief Insp Ahiable said the woman led her father to the pastor at his church premises at Nyive, where the pastor agreed to pay the amount in instalments, but demanded an upfront payment of GH¢ 500 as “processing fee.”  

The court heard that the money was paid into the pastor’s mobile phone account and the woman later paid GH¢c 3,987 into the mobile phone account of the pastor.  

Chief Insp Ahiable said the young woman after waiting in vain to go to the Police Training School, became suspicious and reported the case to the police.  

On February 11, this year when the police accosted Pastor Asante near the Central Market, in Ho, he took to his heels, but he was chased and arrested.  

The prosecution said that Pastor Asante in his caution statement, admitted the offence and pleaded for mercy.  

FROM ALBERTO MARIO NORETTI, HO