Rumor Mill of Monday, 15 December 2008

Source: statesman

Mensah Otabil On Hit List

A number of individuals including the charismatic General Overseer of International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), Pastor Mensa Otabil, have been targeted by groups suspected to be working for a particular political party. Dr. Otabil is said be in the known of the assassination plot on his life.

He reportedly told the media that he got wind of the plot from very reliable sources, but said he has entrusted the safety of his life in the hands of his Maker. Reports say Dr. Otabil is on the hit list of the said assassins due to his comments on the pulpit which they perceive have not been in their interest.Other individuals on the hit list are journalists, businessmen and political opponents among others. Some journalists have started receiving threatening sms text messages warning them against doomsday for allegedly not supporting the political party they (assassins) are affiliated to.

Pastor Otabil, an educator, entrepreneur and consultant, said to the best of his knowledge, he had not used his pulpit to antagonise any section of society and does not understand why anybody would pay assassins to kill him. Dr. Otabil is among the group of clergy statesmen who have received a constant verbal pounding from former President Jerry Rawlings, who accused them of failing to speak against what he claimed were atrocities of the current government.

Recently, a number of international organizations that visited Ghana to ensure peaceful polls were told by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) that religious leaders were in bed with the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration because they had failed to point out its misdeeds. Dr Otabil is a member of the National Peace Council and serves on several Boards and Trusts of organizations in Ghana and other countries.

He is also the Chancellor of the Central University College, a private university established by his church and the Chief Executive Officer and Consultant of Otabil and Associates - an executive and leadership growth consultancy. Five months ago, his Trassaco Valley residence in Accra was broken into at night by suspected thieves who took away laptops, a phone and an unspecified amount of money.