Accra: 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.
According to Ghana News Agency, the prosecution stated that 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. These items belonged to Veronica Owusu Boateng, the complainant. Amanda was caught after the church's CCTV cameras recorded her entering the complainant's room during a church service and leaving with bags containing the stolen items.
Drama unfolded during the proceedings when the trial judge inquired about any previous convictions. While the case investigator mentioned a previous jail term by the LEKMA District Court, Amanda confessed to having been sentenced by the same Circuit Court to nine months imprisonment earlier. The judge advised her to utilize rehabilitation programmes within the Ghana Prisons Service to reform, emphasizing her responsibility as a mother.
The court learned that only the deep fryer and the Bluetooth speaker had been recovered. Amanda requested more time from the court, citing preparations for an outdooring ceremony in March. Chief Inspector Abigail Offeibea informed the court that the complainant, an emergency medical personnel at the 37 Military Hospital, resided at the Teshie Barracks, while Amanda, a Nigerian national, lived at Teshie Lascala.
The prosecution narrated that on February 15, 2026, the complainant discovered the theft after being notified post-service that the 21 trumpet mouthpieces were missing. A review of the CCTV footage revealed Amanda, a frequent visitor to the barracks, stealing the items. The incident was reported to the police, leading to a search operation. Amanda was located in the neighborhood on February 17, arrested, and taken to the police station with the recovered items. In her caution statement, she admitted to the crime, revealing she had used some of the items and discarded the trumpet mouthpieces.