A pastor and two church workers have been sent to
the Ho Central Prison to serve a four-year jail term each for flouting the ban
on social gathering.
Apostle Sampson Agakpe who is the founder of the
Church of Pure Christ in the Volta Region, was arrested on April 12 together
with his assistant pastor, Maxwell Dzogoedzikpe and church secretary, Samuel
Agakpe.
The pastor was said to have held church service at
Tongor-Abui in the South Dayi district last Sunday for more than 50 people in
clear breach of the ban on religious gathering contrary to Regulation 1
sub-section 1 of EI 65 and section 6 of Act 1012.
Members of the church however managed to escape,
the police said in court.
The three arrested pleaded guilty to the charges of
failing to comply with the ban and put before the Kpando Circuit Court, and
accordingly fined 13,200 cedis each or in default serve four-year jail term
each.
As at Thursday, April 16, they had failed to pay
the fine totaling 39,600 cedis, forcing authorities to send them to the Ho
Central Prion to serve the four year jail term.
Prosecution told the court that on April 12, the
police had information that Apostle Agakpe, was having a church service at the
church premises at Tongor-Abui in the South Dayi district assembly.
The police proceeded to the scene and met the
apostle preaching to a congregation of over 50 “in flagrant disregard of the
president of the republic of Ghana’s imposed restrictions on public gathering
including religious activities in churches”, the court heard.
According to the prosecution, the police took
photographs and arrested the apostle and two of his church elders, “…whilst
other congregants took to their heels and escaped arrest”.
Source: www.3news.com | Ghana
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