A 45-year-old woman who claimed to be a prophetess has been sentenced to five years in prison for stealing personal belongings and cash valued at GH¢27,270.
The Asante Akropong Circuit Court handed down the sentence after Ama Salifu, also a trader, pleaded guilty to two separate incidents of deception and theft in Asante Abuakwa.
According to Police Chief Inspector Evans Ayimbisa, the first incident occurred on April 17, 2025, when Salifu approached Josephina Owusuaa near the Abuakwa SDA junction.
Claiming to have a divine message, she instructed the woman to leave her bag, which contained GH¢1,200 in cash and an iPhone XR, with a nearby trader and walk to another location for a “spiritual revelation”.
Owusuaa complied, but when she returned, Salifu and her belongings were gone.
The trader explained that the woman had pretended to be Owusuaa’s mother and collected the bag.
In August, Salifu used a similar tactic on a 16-year-old girl at Abuakwa market.
She convinced the teen that her mother was under spiritual attack and needed urgent deliverance.
After being taken to their home, she stole fabric, clothing, an iPhone 6s, and cash, altogether worth over GH¢20,000.
Salifu disappeared after the thefts but was arrested on October 13 at Abuakwa-Manhyia.
During police questioning, she confessed and admitted selling the items but failed to identify the buyer.
She was charged and convicted on her own plea by presiding judge Mrs. Gloria Mensah Bonsu.
