Alpha Hour church arsonist gets 12 months jail after pleading guilty

The Asofan District Court has sentenced Kesse Okyerewaa Koranteng, a woman charged with attempted arson at the Grace Town Power Ministry Headquarters, popularly known as Alpha Hour to 12 months’ imprisonment after she pleaded guilty to the offence.

She was charged with attempted arson after setting fire on the church on Monday, 9 February 2026.

Police said they received information that a suspect, identified as Kesse Okyerewaa Koranteng, had unlawfully entered the church premises and set parts of the auditorium on fire.

The court accepted the guilty plea of the convict following the adoption of a psychiatric evaluation report ordered by the court.

The sentence was handed down on Monday by Magistrate Jehoshaphat A. Nyarko, who presided over proceedings at the Asofan District Court.

The case returned to court after an earlier directive requiring the prosecution to produce the psychiatrist who prepared the accused person’s medical report to explain its contents before the court proceeded with the trial.

At Monday’s sitting, the prosecution informed the court that it had complied with the earlier order by producing the psychiatric specialist.

The medical expert, Dr. Frank Osei Frimpong, testified under oath before the court.

After formally adopting the psychiatric report, the medical specialist was cross-examined by the prosecutor, Chief Inspector Isaac Aboagye, who sought clarification on the findings contained in the medical assessment.

Following the cross-examination, the court ruled that there was no legal impediment to proceeding with the case and directed that the accused person’s plea be taken.

The charge was subsequently read to the accused in open court, where she entered a plea of guilty.

Following the guilty plea, the court heard mitigation on behalf of the accused before proceeding to sentence.

Magistrate Nyarko subsequently convicted the accused on her own plea and sentenced her to 12 months’ imprisonment.

The conviction brings to an end proceedings that had earlier been delayed pending clarification of the accused person’s psychiatric condition through the medical assessment ordered by the court.

The psychiatric report became a central issue in the proceedings after the court directed that the medical specialist personally appear to explain the findings before any plea could be taken, ensuring that the accused was medically fit to stand trial.