Help fight coronavirus and stop taking collections via momo – Odike challenges Otabil, others

Ghanaian businessman, Akwasi Addai Odike, has accused leader of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), Pastor Mensa Otabil, of concentrating on how he can exploit ‘poor’ Ghanaians while the country is striving to fight the Coronavirus pandemic.

“People like Mensah Otabil and others who sit on radio to announce that you have got a code so somebody should send money to you should voluntarily donate to the country,” Mr. Odike challenged as he described him as ‘collection oriented’.

According to the founder and bankroller of the United Front Party (UFP), churches in Ghana at this moment should have stopped taking offerings and rather offer a bunch of their heaped money to the government in the fight.

President Nana Addo in his televised address to the nation that sought to update Ghanaians on the corona virus pandemic, banned all forms of public gathering, instituting social distancing as a measure to prevent the spread.

Churches that were also affected by the ban stopped all their activities including Sunday service.

Meanwhile, Churches like ICGC continue to hold services online while members could send their offering to the church through a mobile money account.

But Mr. Odike in a studio discussion on Kumasi-based Nhyira FM, wondered why churches still chase people in such manner to exploit them

“Look at the conduct of the churches saying. I am having church service on mobile phones; send your collection and tithe through this number. I am really saddened about some so-called pastors of churches,” he lamented.

According to him, the church as an institution in the society “is believed to be a charitable organization and this is the time they portray habits of love for country and not the reverse where suffering Ghanaians should send collection to you”.