Today, Wednesday August 31, marks the 57th birthday of the founder and leader of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), Pastor Mensa Otabil.

Born in 1959 to Dinah and Lloyd Otabil, Pastor Otabil, from a humble beginning, has grown to become of the most influential personalities in the country.

He is the founder and Chancellor of Central University College, and the Chief Executive Officer of Otabil and Associates, an executive and leadership growth consultancy.

Pastor Otabil’s pastoral work has centred on issues relevant to Africa, although he has spoken internationally at various conferences and churches.

Pastor Otabil has been awarded honorary doctorate degrees for his work in various fields. He was also a recipient of a Millennium Excellence Award. In 2007, he was honoured by the Government of Ghana with the Order of the Volta (Religion).

Today, Pastor Otabil’s ICGC, which started at the Kanda Cluster of Schools in Accra, has grown to become one of the most popular churches with branches all across the country.

He is known for his wise sayings and motivational speeches, notable among them being “Rise up. Move on. Face your fears! If you persist, you will win.”