Opoku-Mensah: Otabil still interested in National Cathedral project

The executive director of the National Cathedral of Ghana says Dr Mensa Otabil did not leave the board because of a scandal, as reported by a section of the media.

Paul Opoku-Mensah, the executive director of the National Cathedral of Ghana, has said it was his personal decision to invite Dr Mensa Otabil to become a member of the board of trustees for the project.

Dr Opoku-Mensah’s comment follows recent media reports that the founder of the International Central Gospel Church had resigned from the board and that his picture has been removed from the website.

The MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who has been vociferous about the development, had asked the National Cathedral to apologise to Dr Otabil for making a mistake.

Talking to Benjamin Offei-Addo, the sit-in host of The Asaase Breakfast Show, on Monday (20 June 2022), Opoku-Mensah said: “It was really my own personal decision.

“I was hoping that I will convince him after he finishes and [that he would] come back. I really admire Dr Otabil, at a personal level. [And] this idea that we could build a church in Africa which is resourced in Africa: I have always admired that and I think we need that.

“Just a couple of days [ago], he called me once again. We discussed strategy. He is very interested in this project. He never resigned because there was a scandal; no, it has never been [like that]. It is just simple that he said, ‘I didn’t want to register,’” Dr Opoku-Mensah said.

He said Dr Mensa Otabil has always been open to sharing ideas and strategy about the national project.

“There are some people who are principled,” Opoku-Mensah said. “Certain people are like that. I also do these things and I have deep understanding about how these things work and we do talk about strategy.”