By Grace Zigah
A 23-year-old student, Ohemaa Serwaa Abigail Owusu Ansah, has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit crime, to wit stealing, and stealing, over the alleged theft of GH¢1.5 million belonging to the founder of International Godsway Church, Bishop Daniel Obinim.
The accused entered her plea when she appeared before the Adenta Circuit Court on Friday for the second time since her arrest.
At her first appearance, the court granted her bail in the sum of GH¢1 million, with two sureties, one of whom was required to justify with landed property. However, the court deferred taking her plea until her subsequent appearance.
Presenting the prosecution’s case, Chief Inspector Maxwell Lanyo told the court that Bishop Obinim was the complainant and that the accused was his friend.
According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on October 13, 2026, when Owusu Ansah visited the bishop at his residence at Lakeside.
The prosecution said the two were having a conversation in the bishop’s room when he left for church, leaving the accused at the residence.
However, at about 7:00 a.m. the following day, October 14, Bishop Obinim allegedly discovered that his safe had been broken into and GH¢1.5 million taken.
Chief Inspector Lanyo told the court that when the bishop confronted the accused over the missing money, she allegedly disclosed that she had contacted a worker of her father, identified as Owusu, who arranged for two young men to meet her at the residence.
The prosecution alleged that the accused subsequently led the two men into the bishop’s room and showed them the safe.The two men allegedly broke into the safe, removed the money and left the premises.
The prosecution further told the court that the accused was arrested on October 16, 2026, at about 2:00 p.m. and taken to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters for questioning.
According to Chief Inspector Lanyo, the accused, in her caution statement, allegedly admitted inviting the two men to the bishop’s residence to break into the safe and steal the money. The prosecution, however, indicated that investigations into the matter were still ongoing.
