Ama Salifu, a self-proclaimed prophetess, will spend the next five years behind bars after a Kumasi Circuit Court found her guilty of defrauding unsuspecting victims out of cash and valuables totaling GHS27,270.
The sentence, handed down by Mrs. Gloria Mensah Bonsu, followed Salifu’s admission of guilt in deceiving two individuals through separate incidents in Abuakwa, Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality.
The court heard how the 45-year-old first targeted Josephina Owusuaa near the Abuakwa SDA Junction. Introducing herself as a prophetess with a divine message, Salifu instructed Owusuaa to leave her bag—which contained GHS1,200 in cash and an iPhone XR worth GHS3,000, with a nearby trader while she was led away for a supposed “spiritual revelation.” When Owusuaa returned, Salifu and the bag had both vanished.
In another instance, Salifu approached a 16-year-old girl at the Abuakwa Market, warning that the teenager’s mother was under spiritual attack and urgently needed deliverance. Spooked by the alarming prophecy, the girl handed over a bag with an iPhone 6s, money, and other personal items. Salifu disappeared once again, leaving the young victim empty-handed.
The court was told that Salifu had made a habit of exploiting the faith and fear of her victims, pretending to offer spiritual guidance and deliverance while making off with their belongings. Her activities came to a halt on October 13, 2025, when police, acting on community tip-offs, arrested her at Abuakwa-Manhyia. Officers described her as a “confident trickster” who preyed on trust and vulnerability.
Ama Salifu’s conviction on charges of defrauding by false pretence was met with a five-year prison sentence. The court emphasized that the punishment should serve as a warning to others who might attempt to exploit religious faith for personal gain.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
