CAGED! Stephen Yaw Gyamfi
A 32-year-old junior pastor has been sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment by the Nsuta Circuit Court in the Ashanti Region for defrauding a teacher of GH¢78,800 in a fake overseas employment scheme.
Stephen Yaw Gyamfi, a junior pastor at Blessed Gate Worship Centre at Mim in the Ahafo Region, was convicted after pleading guilty to a charge of defrauding by false pretences.
The sentence was handed down by the presiding judge, Simon Nketiah Gagah, on Friday, August 7, 2026.
The court heard that Gyamfi was introduced to 41-year-old teacher, Abigail Darkwah, in January 2025 by her colleague, Collin Sackey.
Sackey reportedly told Darkwah about an opportunity to secure a teaching job in Malaysia and introduced her to Gyamfi, who claimed he could facilitate the process.
According to the prosecution, Gyamfi demanded $4,300, equivalent to GH¢73,100 at an exchange rate of GH¢17 to the dollar, purportedly for visa processing and airfare.
Darkwah initially paid GH¢15,000, leaving a balance of GH¢58,100.
Gyamfi later collected her passport, claiming it was needed to facilitate the travel arrangements.
The prosecution said about a month later, Gyamfi informed Darkwah that her visa had been secured but would expire within six months.
Believing the claim, Darkwah paid the outstanding GH¢58,100.
Gyamfi subsequently demanded another GH¢3,800 for a hotel reservation and GH¢1,900 for travel insurance, bringing the total amount paid to GH¢78,800.
However, after receiving the money, Gyamfi allegedly disappeared.
Arrested At Hideout
Darkwah subsequently reported the matter to the Regional Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Mampong.
Investigations led the police to Mim in the Ahafo Region, where Gyamfi was reportedly hiding.
Following a police wireless message to the Mim Police, he was arrested at his hideout on June 22, 2026.
He was subsequently transferred to the Mampong Police CID for further investigations.
During interrogation, Gyamfi admitted the offence in his cautioned statement, the prosecution told the court.
The court later gave him an opportunity to refund the money to Darkwah, but he was only able to pay GH¢10,000.
This left an outstanding balance of GH¢68,800.
The court ordered the prosecution to release the GH¢10,000 to Darkwah and advised her to pursue a civil action to recover the remaining amount after Gyamfi’s release from prison.
In imposing the 10-year sentence, the court said the punishment was intended to deter others from engaging in similar fraudulent activities.
The court further noted the increasing prevalence of fraudulent travel and overseas employment schemes, and urged the public to exercise caution when dealing with persons who promise to secure jobs abroad.
FROM David Afum, Nsuta