The mystery surrounding the supposed resignation of International Central Gospel Church (ICGC) head pastor from the National Cathedral Board of Trustees has been demystified as the Secretariat has said Dr Mensa Otabil had “excused” himself since 2019.
A statement dated June 17, 2022, and signed by the Executive Director of the National Cathedral, Dr Paul Opoku-Mensah, has clarified.
The statement postdates a notice the public received of the resignation of the founder of the ICGC amid the backlashes directed against the Akufo-Addo government for the illegal injection of state fund into the project.
The news which was broken on Twitter by a journalist, Blessed Godsbrain Smart popular known as Captain Smart, teased the public to check the National Cathedral website which revealed that Dr Mensa Otabil had been removed from the list of Trustees.
The tweet read thus, “Archbishop Duncan Williams, Rev. Eastwood Anaba and Bishop Dag Heward-Mills would also be tendering in their resignation soon from the National Cathedral Board Of Trustees?.
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The information created the impression that the man of God relieved himself of the position due to the allegations of financial malfeasance the government was engaged in.
However, Dr Paul Opoku-Mensah’s statement said the Pastor stepped down when the Board of Trustees were to register their names as Board of Directors in the year 2019.
According to the Executive Director, Dr Mensa Otabil took the decision because he could not give the project the needed attension, hence his self-excuse.
“The National Cathedral was registered as a company by limited guarantee, to be used as the instrument for the construction and management of the National Cathedral. The company was legally registered on 18th July 2019.
“The Board of Trustees had to be registered as Directors of the company. A member of the trustees, Dr Mensa Otabil, the General Overseer of International Central Gospel Church, had indicated that he couldn’t give the needed attension to the project so he didn’t register.
“So, Dr Mensa Otabil did not resign from the Board as being alleged, but excused himself at the point of registration of Directors in July 2019. For the avoidance of all doubts, Dr Mensa Otabil has not been a member of the Board of Trustees since July 2019,” the statement read.
The Executive Director further stated in the communique that the clergyman despite his self-excuse, has remained interested in the project and has been sharing his views on strategies with the Secretariat.
The Secretariat however aplogised for the continuous usage of the name and image of the exited Board member in publications saying it was an “administrative lapse by the Secretariat”.
