Sammy, a man who grew up with Pastor Love in the same village, recently shared the heartbreaking story of how their once-close friendship turned into a bitter legal battle. Both childhood friends had lost touch after Sammy traveled to the U.S. in 1999, but they were reconnected through a mutual friend when Sammy returned to Ghana years later. What started as a rekindled friendship would soon lead to an unfortunate series of events, culminating in Pastor Love’s imprisonment.
Upon his return to Ghana, Sammy brought with him a Toyota Highlander, which he gave to his brother to sell. The car was sold, but instead of receiving the money, Sammy’s brother squandered it. This left Sammy in a difficult position as he had imported another car and needed to clear the customs duty. Faced with the financial burden, Sammy was prepared to take out a loan to pay for the duty, but when he confided in Pastor Love, his old friend generously offered to help.
Pastor Love agreed to cover the GHC270,000 duty required to clear the car, with the understanding that Sammy would repay him once he sold the car. Sammy’s sister, who was also in the U.S., contributed GHC150,000 towards the duty, and Pastor Love was supposed to add the remaining GHC120,000. Pastor Love paid the duty and cleared the car, but what happened next shocked Sammy.
Without informing Sammy, Pastor Love secretly took the car’s papers from the agent and drove the car away. When Sammy called to ask why, Pastor Love claimed he was interested in buying the car. Sammy, who had intended to use the car briefly before selling it, was caught off guard but agreed to let Pastor Love have the car if he could pay for it.
Soon after, Pastor Love changed his tone, telling Sammy’s brother that the money he had lent to clear the car was accruing interest. Sammy confronted Pastor Love, reminding him that they had never agreed on interest, but Pastor Love insisted Sammy needed to repay him immediately. Sammy, willing to settle the matter, returned to Ghana with the GHC120,000 he owed Pastor Love, only to be hit with another surprise.
Pastor Love now claimed that he had spent an additional GHC200,000 to clear the car and demanded that Sammy pay that amount as well—with interest. Frustrated and feeling betrayed, Sammy reluctantly agreed to pay the amount, with the help of a friend, in the hopes of resolving the issue once and for all. But when he asked Pastor Love to bring the car in exchange for the money, Pastor Love refused.
Feeling cornered, Sammy involved the police. Pastor Love was arrested by the East Legon Police and held in custody for two weeks. The case was then transferred to the Police Headquarters, where Pastor Love shockingly admitted that the car had already been sold. Despite efforts by the police to trace the car, they were unsuccessful.
Eventually, Pastor Love was prosecuted for fraud and deception in a circuit court, where he was convicted and sentenced to jail. Sammy’s testimony on Kofi TV, detailing how Pastor Love’s betrayal led to his imprisonment, is a powerful reminder of how trust and friendship can be shattered by greed and dishonesty. What started as a kind gesture from a childhood friend turned into a legal nightmare, forever changing the relationship between the two men.
