Dr Dominic Allotey, General Overseer of Living Faith Ministries International Church, Accra, has admonished Ghanaians to refrain from using bank loans to pay tithes.

He cited potential legal consequences for such unwise decisions, during a series of economic empowerment messages at Rhema House.

“You give your tithes out of an income. A loan is not an income, a loan is borrowed money. God forbid, if you lose that money you will land in jail in certain places,” Dr Allotey said.

The presiding bishop of Living Faith Ministries International Church also urged churches and pastors to schedule services outside of weekday working hours, to allow members to fulfill their professional commitments.

“Success does not come from praying for hours. It comes from abiding with principles like hard work, diligence, accountability, obedience and productivity,” Dr Allotey said.

Bishop Allotey stressed these principles have been key to the success of developed countries, including those that gained independence alongside Ghana. He further encouraged young people to apply these principles in practical ways, such as through skills acquisition and entrepreneurship to achieve success.

He said this addressing his congregation during Covenant of Increase, an initiative the church has designed to empower young business leaders, students and entrepreneurs in Africa.

“What sets Covenant of Increase apart from other programmes is its focus on providing financial empowerment to young individuals seeking economic growth, making it a unique empowerment summit for idea development, business growth, and leadership development,” investment banker and a member of the planning committee of the summit, Albert Kusi, remarked.

The week-long event, which commenced on August 4 and continues until August 11, features notable guests from the political landscape, corporate community, diaspora, and Africa.