Dear GhanaWeb,

I am a 33-year-old woman, and for the past seven years, I have served as the treasurer of my church. I was given this role because I have a background in finance. My responsibilities include depositing and withdrawing money, keeping proper records, and presenting financial reports to the church when needed.

Over time, my pastor developed a habit of asking me for money from the church account. Several times a week, he would request that I transfer funds to him or withdraw cash for various purposes.

At first, I expressed my discomfort. However, things took a different turn when I was preparing for my wedding and needed financial support. He encouraged me to take money from the church account for myself, assuring me it was not a loan and that I could take up to GH¢50,000. I ended up taking GH¢45,000. From that moment, everything changed.

I lost the moral ground to question him. Whenever he requested money, he would tell me to also take something for myself. Not long after, our relationship became personal. We started spending time together, and eventually, it turned into an affair. This happened after I was already married, meaning I was being unfaithful to my husband, while he was also cheating on his wife.

At first, I felt uneasy, but he used money and attention to keep me close. He took me on trips, both within and outside the country, often under the pretence of church work. He would inform the church and my husband that he was travelling to preach and needed me to accompany him. In reality, we were going on personal trips, fully funded by church money.

Since 2021, this has been our lifestyle. We spent freely, occasionally raising funds to cover appearances while secretly depleting the church’s savings. When it came time to present financial reports, I manipulated the figures to maintain the trust of the congregation, even though the account balance was steadily shrinking.

Things became even more complicated when I got pregnant for him, and he insisted I keep the baby. I did. Now, my first child is not my husband’s.

At this point, the church believes we have over GH¢3 million in savings. In reality, there is only GH¢4,980 left. Recently, the church began a building project and expects me to release funds from the account to support it.

Now, the pressure is intense. Members are demanding access to the money, and I have been making excuses since January to avoid signing the cheque. My pastor has suggested that I tell the church I loaned the entire amount to someone, effectively taking the blame alone. He claims he will stand by me and support me, but deep down, I feel like he is preparing to let me take the fall.

I am overwhelmed, scared, and confused. The consequences of the truth could be devastating, not just for my reputation, but for my marriage, my child, and my future.

Should I try to take a loan to replace the money, confess everything to the church, or trust that my pastor will truly stand by me if I take the blame?


FG/EB


Children of a popular pastor identified as victims of the tragic Tema helicopter crash