Pastor Love’s 48-Month Sentence; Inside the 7-Year Court Case That Landed Him Behind Bars

Head pastor of Action Grace Chapel International, Pastor Love Hammond has been sentenced to 48 months of hard labor for theft.

According to reports, the ex-husband of renowned Ghanaian gospel singer, Obaapa Christy, was convicted after a protracted seven-year legal battle. Before his sentencing, he pleaded with the court for leniency, expressing his willingness to pay any fines imposed.

Judge Isaac Addo, who presided over the case, acknowledged that Pastor Love’s status as a first-time offender was considered. However, he emphasized that as a pastor, Love was expected to uphold a high level of integrity, especially in matters of trust. This, the judge noted, made the 48-month sentence necessary to serve as a deterrent.

The case, presented by ASP Frimpong, revealed that in 2016, a U.S. resident named Samuel Amankwah entrusted Pastor Love with the responsibility of clearing a 4×4 vehicle he had shipped to Ghana. Pastor Love initially cleared the vehicle using his own funds, and Amankwah instructed him to sell it for $50,000, allowing him to deduct the duty costs. However, Amankwah later asked Love to hold off on the sale until his return to Ghana.

When Amankwah arrived in Ghana in April 2017, Pastor Love was unable to produce the vehicle despite numerous requests. This led Amankwah to file a police complaint, resulting in Pastor Love’s arrest in May 2017.

During questioning, Pastor Love claimed he had taken a GH¢40,000 loan with 20 percent interest to clear the vehicle and sold it for GH¢80,000 without the owner’s consent to repay the loan. However, he failed to provide proof of the loan or the buyer. The court deemed his statements dishonest.