Otabil killed a fly with sledge hammer- Agyenim Boateng

A deputy information minister says the head pastor of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC) Pastor Mensa Otabil went overboard in his objection to the use of his messages to support the crusade against free Senior High School (SHS).

James Agyenim Boateng said the ICGC head had every right to protest the use of his messages for partisan gains but the words he chose to register his protest were harsh.

Pastor Otabil in his press conference accused “surrogates” of the ruling party of piecing and splicing his messages for political capital and exposing him to public ridicule.

He said the action is “criminal, unethical, Machiavellian and evil.”

But the head pastor has come in the line of fire with government spokespersons criticizing his comments, some very harshly.

Head of Policy Monitoring and Evaluation Dr Tony Aidoo accused the pastor of lacking integrity and must stand by his words.

On MultiTV and Joy FM news analysis programme, Newsfile on Saturday, James Agyenim Boateng said Pastor Otabil’s press conference was ill timed and harsh.

He said in the week in which the ICGC boss was organizing the Destiny Summit and had brought international pastors into Ghana, he did not need such a bad press.

Mr. Agyenim Boateng also had challenges with the words used by the preacher man.

Whilst Pastor Otabil has a right to protest the use of his messages, the deputy information minister said his choice of words were in bad taste.

He also disagreed with Pastor Otabil over comments that the messages were pieced and spliced.

But the Director of Communications of the CPP, Nii Armah Akomfrah said the ruling party committed a huge blunder in using the messages of Pastor Otabil.

He also insisted the decision by functionaries of the ruling party to take on the ICGC head who has several thousands of followers, three weeks to an election was imprudent.

Mr. Akomfrah however agreed with the minster on the choice of words of the ICGC head.

He said Pastor Otabil’s words were harsh.