The Pastor of Kingdom of God Church arrested by Nkawkaw Police has been convicted by the Nkawkaw District Magistrate Court presided over by His Worship Albert Kwasi Owusu to a total fine of GH₵1,200 in default serves eighteen (18) months imprisonment sentence in hard labour.
The Convict-Pastor John Jeremiah Addo was arrested Sunday, March 22, 2020, for holding Church Service despite a ban on public gatherings.
He pleaded guilty to charges of unlawful Assembly and offensive conduct conducive to the breaches of peace when put before the court Tuesday, March 24, 2020, by the Prosecutor Chief Inspector Emmanuel Ankra. He was thus sentenced accordingly to a fine of 50 penalty units on each count which converts to a total of GH₵1,200.
The Pastor has since paid the fine.
Background
Pastor John Jeremiah Addo of Kingdom of God Church in Amanfrom a suburb of Nkawkaw was arrested for holding Church Service on Sunday.
During interrogation, the Pastor angrily said he could not understand why the government has shutdown Churches but allowing traders to operate in market centers.
Mybrytfmonline.com gathered that on Sunday at about 10:40am, Nana Mireku Asumeng, a sub-Chief of Nkawkaw Amanfrom accompanied by one Kwaku Obeng on reported at the Nkawkaw Central Police station that at about 9:00am, they saw the kingdom of God church performing church activities at Amanfrom, a suburb of Nkawkaw.
The day patrol team of the Police proceeded to the said Church at Amanfrom and found Pastor Jeremiah Addo leading the church service together with a congregation numbering about fifty (50). He was arrested while Congregants dispersed.
On Wednesday, March 18, 2020, a Prayer Camp was shut down by the Akuapem South District Security Council (DISEC) in the Eastern Region for flouting President Akufo-Addo’s directing on suspension of Church activities.
The founder of the Prayer Camp-The Break of Mountains Prayer Camp located at Pokrom community near Aburi, Prophetess Veronica Okai, was arrested alongside his Church Elder.
Ghana has recorded 52 confirmed cases of Covid-19 with two fatalities as of March 24, 2020.The first case was recorded on March 13, 2020
Ghana’s President having suspended all social gatherings including Church activities and closed down schools since March 16, 2020, Saturday, March 18, 2020, announced the closure of all borders both by Land, Sea and Air space. Also, mandatory 14 days quarantine for all permitted travelers to Ghana as part of enhanced measures to control the spread of the disease.
Source: Mybrytfmonline/Obed Ansah
