Members of St. James Methodist Church in Axim in the Western Region were stunned last Sunday when the Superintendent Minister, Very Rev. Peter Awuah-Mensah, announced that a member of the church, Sabinah Ackah, had been suspended from the church for six months for allegedly stealing money belonging to the church.

A reliable source at the church told DAILY GUIDE that Sabina was the treasurer of the Methodist Singing Band, one of the numerous groups in the church, but was not a signatory to the group’s account at the bank.

The source continued that the members of the church’s singing band had managed to save about GH¢400 at the bank.

About two weeks ago, as the members of the group were preparing to attend a conference at Takoradi, the leadership of the group asked the signatory to the account to go for money from the bank for the purchase of certain items needed for the conference, among other things.

DAILY GUIDE gathered that the one who went for the money was totally astonished when he was informed by the bank that the balance of the group’s account was GH¢ 18.00 and so he could not withdraw any amount exceeding what was left.

According to sources, when the surprising news got to the Superintendent Minister of the Methodist Church, he collaborated with the bank to investigate the matter.

The investigations then revealed that it was Sabina who had allegedly forged the signature of the signatory to the count and withdrew the money from the account without the knowledge of members of the singing band.

Breaking the astonishing news to the church members on Sunday, Very Rev Awuah-Mensah told the members that the church had decided to suspend Sabina from the church to serve as a deterrent to others who might want to dip their hands into the church scoffers.