My pulpit is not for politics; Mahama speak to your people – Otabil

The General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), Pastor Mensa Otabil, has called on President John Mahama to “rise up and speak” against the manipulation of his sermons for political gains by some National Democratic Congress (NDC) members.

He said he is appealing to the President because “the perpetrators of these blatant acts of impunity are largely affiliates and surrogates of your party.”

Pastor Otabil has come under heavy public backlash when portions of his sermons were released in the media condemning the much-touted free Senior High School education policies of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and other smaller parties contesting the December 7 elections.

“Today I come [as] a simple pastor. I do not have the machinery of State behind me, I do not have a police force or military detachment to defend me, I do not have serial callers or a media machinery to spin my story, all I have is the God whom I have served over the years, he is my strength and my fortress and it is to him that I commit this matter,” the man of God said.

Addressing a press conference in Accra on Monday to clarify and address media reference that seeks to place his sermons and person in a partisan political position, Pastor Otabil clarified the misrepresentations of his sermons and also to stop the harassment against his integrity.

According to Pastor Otabil, he has endeavored through his years of ministry to encourage all people. “When I speak to encourage people, I speak through the core of my being; my messages speak to Christians of all shades, Muslims and a large segment of people who belong to different belief systems. I have endeavoured to be a bridge builder. My church has active members with all shades of political opinion; they have comfortably sat under my ministry over the years because as a guide I have stridden to use the pulpit of the church for the preaching of the Gospel of Christ and the upliftment of my hearers.”

“My pulpit is not for partisan politics,” he said. He said that explains why when various political leaders visit his church, they acknowledge them without giving them the platform to address the nation.
 
Citifmonline.com