A self-styled prophetess, Ama Salifu, has been sentenced to five years in prison for defrauding unsuspecting victims of cash and valuables totalling GHS27,270 under the guise of offering spiritual guidance and deliverance.

The 45-year-old woman was found guilty by a Kumasi Circuit Court, presided over by Mrs. Gloria Mensah Bonsu, after admitting to deceiving two individuals in separate incidents at Abuakwa in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality.

According to the facts presented in court, Miss Salifu first approached Josephina Owusuaa near the Abuakwa SDA Junction, introducing herself as a prophetess with a divine message.

She instructed Owusuaa to leave her bag — containing GHS 1,200 in cash and an iPhone XR valued at GHS3,000 — with a nearby trader while she walked to another location for a “spiritual revelation.”

When Owusuaa returned, both Ms Salifu and her belongings had vanished.

In a second case, the fraudster targeted a 16-year-old girl at the Abuakwa Market, claiming the girl’s mother was under a spiritual attack and urgently needed deliverance.

The teenager, acting in fear, handed over a bag containing an iPhone 6s, money, and personal items — only for Ms Salifu to disappear again.

The court heard that Ms Salifu consistently exploited her victims’ faith and fear, pretending to offer divine intervention while stealing their possessions.

Her fraudulent activities came to an end on October 13, 2025, when police arrested her at Abuakwa-Manhyia following investigations and tip-offs from the community.

Police described her as a “confident trickster” who preyed on the vulnerability and trust of her victims.

Ms Salifu was convicted on charges of defrauding by false pretence, and the court sentenced her to five years imprisonment to serve as a deterrent to others who use religion to exploit innocent people.