An accountant who embezzled GH₵40,433.50 from the Ghana Police Church has been sentenced to two years in prison by the Adentan Circuit Court.
In court, Edward Unicorn, 32, admitted using the stolen funds to place bets.
He requested bail so he could work and repay the money.
Unicorn was charged with theft and pleaded guilty with an explanation.
“I spent the money playing Aviator (an online betting game). I staked it and never won. I was desperate to win but lost.
“I was addicted to Aviator, so my brother referred me to a doctor at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. I called him twice and I never went to see him.
“I put in the GH₵40,000 bit by bit. I was desperate to win,” he explained.
The court presided over by Mrs. Sedinam Awo Kwadam, convicted Edward Unicorn based on his guilty plea.
Chief Inspector Anim Darko, representing the prosecution, stated that the complainant is a police officer and the church’s chaplain, and that Unicorn was employed as the church’s accountant.
The court ordered Edward Unicorn to pay GH₵5,000 in restitution, with an additional GH₵2,775, which was recovered from him, to be given to the Ghana Police Church.
Ghana is now considered one of the leading sports betting markets in sub-Saharan Africa despite a relatively minor population of just over 30 million.
However, sports betting has taken a different level, particularly in the last 10 years.
Sports betting in Ghana is now a big business.
Mobile apps and mobile-friendly websites have made it easier for Ghanaians to place bets on their favourite sports events regardless of time and place.
This trend is driven by the convenience and flexibility that mobile betting offers, which allows customers to stay engaged with their bets even on the go.
Background
In June 2024, Edward Unicorn began working for the church, where his responsibilities included collecting cash from ushers, managing the church’s mobile money accounts, preparing payroll, and providing monthly reports to the Financial Committee.
Due to his role, Unicorn had unrestricted access to the church’s mobile money accounts, giving him direct control over the church’s cash flow.
On August 17, 2024, around 7:00 PM, Unicorn left work with the church’s mobile money phone. The prosecution reported that he went to Jerry’s Pub, met a friend named Wishwell Kofi Yorke, and then hired two Nigerian prostitutes. They proceeded to the Purple Pub in Osu, where Unicorn made a GH₵136 payment from the church’s mobile money account between 1:00 AM and 7:22 AM on August 18, 2024.
Further investigations revealed that on August 18, 2024, Unicorn deposited GH₵18,303 into Wishwell Kofi Yorke’s mobile money account and GH₵13,588 into his account, using the funds to play Aviator, an online betting game.
When he realized he might be caught, Unicorn feigned a mental condition and was taken to the Ghana Police Hospital before being transferred to the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, where he was treated and discharged.
On August 19, 2024, the complainant, a police officer and chaplain of the church, discovered the theft and reported it to the East Legon Police Station. Unicorn was subsequently arrested and remanded for further investigation.
During the reconciliation of the church’s accounts, it was found that on July 14, 2024, only GH₵5,000 of the GH₵7,000 collected in offertory was deposited into the church’s bank account. On July 21, 2024, GH₵6,500 was collected, but only GH₵6,000 was deposited. Additionally, Unicorn failed to account for GH₵3,143.50 collected on August 18, 2024.