Court Fines Pastor ¢600 At Tema For ....

The magistrate's court in Tema has fined the Head Pastor of God's Shield Gospel Ministry Gh600 or sentenced him to three months of imprisonment with forced labor if the fine is not paid.

The court presided by Mr. Festus FoviNukunu fined the defendant after he pleaded guilty to the allegation of failing to obtain a sanitation report.

The prosecutor, Issah Al-Hassan, stated that the defendant is the founder and senior pastor of God's Shield Gospel Ministry in Adjei Kojo Kanewu.

Mr Al-Hassan said On June 18, 2021, a group of dissatisfied locals lodged a noise complaint against the pastor.

Environmental health and sanitation officers were tasked with undertaking an investigation and taking appropriate action, the prosecution informed the court.

According to Mr. Al-Hassan, the officers discovered that the church was a rented structure in a residential area that lacked soundproofing.

The court heard that God's Shield Gospel Ministry conducted church activities with a public address system emitting deafening sound, much to the annoyance of local residents.

Mr. Al-Hassan stated that the church was operating without a health report and sanitation permit from the Environmental Health and Sanitation Unit (EHSU).


He stated that he acknowledged his guilt when the pastor drew his attention to the infraction.

According to Mr. Al-Hassan, the accused was served with a legal notice to cease the nuisance, but he disobeyed an order to suspend weekday church activities and the use of the sound system, regulate Sunday church activities, and report for further inquiries and discussions.

The prosecution asserts that the pastor reported to the EHSU on June 21, 2021 and informed the officers that the congregation had ceased making commotion.

Mr. Al-Hassan reported that a few days later, residents submitted a petition to the EHSU of the Tema West Municipal Assembly, alleging that the church had disobeyed the EHSU's directive.