Ghanaian Pastor Larry Odonkor loses second appeal in Madagascar theft case

A Ghanaian pastor, Larry Odonkor, has failed in a renewed attempt to overturn a two-year prison sentence imposed on him in Madagascar over a theft-related conviction, marking the second time his appeal has been rejected by the courts.

Pastor Odonkor, formerly affiliated with Lighthouse Chapel International (LCI) in Madagascar, was convicted in 2023 after being found guilty of fraudulently selling a vehicle belonging to the church and misappropriating the proceeds for personal use.

The Madagascan courts held that the act amounted to stealing, embezzlement and dissipation of church property.

Following the dismissal of his latest appeal, a warrant has been issued for his arrest and circulated to the heads of Madagascar’s national security agencies.

Under the order, Pastor Odonkor is to be arrested and committed to prison immediately should he enter the country, whether by air or land.

Court documents indicate that the prosecution established that, while serving as Head Pastor of LCI–Madagascar, Odonkor orchestrated the sale of the vehicle shortly before leaving the country for Accra. Investigators said he directed three individuals, including his assistants, to assist with the transaction and later kept the entire proceeds.

After his conviction, Odonkor filed appeals through his lawyer, Johary Stephen Rasendrarivo. Records show that the Court of Appeal scheduled hearings for December 12, 2023, and January 30, 2024.

Although his lawyer appeared on both occasions, Odonkor himself was absent. Subsequent hearings were adjourned to March 26, 2024, and later dates, but neither the pastor nor his lawyer appeared in court, despite being duly notified and issued an ultimatum.

As a result, the first appeal was dismissed on May 7, 2024. Undeterred, his lawyer filed a second appeal shortly afterward.

In August 2025, the defence submitted additional documents to support the fresh appeal, including WhatsApp messages between Odonkor and an LCI Madagascar officer, in which the pastor denied selling the vehicle.

The court, however, found the new appeal unmeritorious and upheld the conviction and sentence.

Pastor Odonkor is also involved in separate legal proceedings in Ghana. He is one of six former pastors who sued Lighthouse Chapel International in April 2021, alleging illegal practices, unpaid SSNIT contributions, breach of contract and maltreatment.

A SSNIT report published in August 2021, however, cleared the church of wrongdoing.

In another ongoing case, Ghana’s Attorney-General is challenging a Circuit Court ruling that acquitted Odonkor of charges related to the alleged misuse of funds entrusted to him to pay SSNIT contributions and GRA taxes.

The state argues that the trial judge erred by accepting that the monies were taken but concluding that their dissipation was not dishonest.

With both appeals in Madagascar now exhausted, the two-year custodial sentence against Pastor Odonkor remains in force, and his arrest awaits any return to the country.