Mensa Otabil

Mensa Otabil (born August 31, 1959), is a Ghanaian theologian, motivational speaker, and entrepreneur. He is also the founder and Chancellor of Central University College, and CEO of Otabil and Associates, an executive and Leadership Growth Consultancy.

He serves as General Overseer of the Church and Senior Pastor of Christ Temple, Abossey Okai in Accra and Christ Temple - East, Teshie Rasta - Bush Road also in Accra. 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 a state award, Order of the Volta (Religion). The list also featured individuals from diverse sectors including Leadership, Entertainment, Advocacy, Education and Business.

In 2015, Ghanaians voted him as the "Most Influential Person in Ghana", according to a list published by ETV Ghana.

He was, in 2013, considered the twenty-fourth most influential Ghanaian, in a poll run by ETV Ghana.

Television and radio Otabil presents a radio and television program called Living Word where he addresses life issues such as religion, education, economic development, family life, and politics.

The program has been broadcast by several radio and television networks in Ghana.

The show also runs on Matthew Ashimolowo's network KICC-TV, which reaches homes across Europe and into North Africa and parts of the Middle East.

Politics and social views Otabil has been cited in numerous Ghanaian news media for his pragmatic views on governance and Africa as a whole.

He has been accused for being politically biased and affiliated to NPP (a political party in Ghana). In March 2018, former president, John Dramani Mahama launched a similar subtle jab on Otabil. and former president John Agyekum Kuffour who believes Mensa Otabil is not a politician, but rather a pragmatist who likes to talk about the realities of the day. Otabil is said to have led the receival of inappropriate money grants from the Bank on behalf of parties related to him which contributed to the collapse. Sections of Ghanaians have called for sanctioning of Directors of the Bank found to have played a lead role in its collapse. However, in December 2018, Otabil filed his defence against a suit initiated by Vish Ashiagbor and Eric Nana Nipah of PricewaterhouseCoopers, who are receivers of the defunct Capital Bank (Ghana). The Plaintiffs, Messrs Vish Ashiagbor and Eric Nana Nipah from PricewaterhouseCoopers, said the bank's collapse was a “direct result of defendants’ “misgovernance” and “willful” breaches of banking regulations. Pastor Otabil in his defence filed at the court said that the board he chaired did not make any misrepresentation to the Bank of Ghana as regards the payment of the minimum capital required for the granting of the requisite banking license - which was one of the issues in the suit against him and other directors.

Otabil also explained in his defence that the debt of a total of GHȼ482 million found on the books of Capital Bank (Ghana) did not result from the negligence of the directors. He said it was the result of the plaintiff having identified various outstanding or impaired legacy assets traceable to the microfinance days of First Capital Plus which later became Capital Bank (Ghana).

Publications Otabil has published several motivational, leadership, and devotional books: Buy the Future: Learning to Negotiate for a Future Better Than Your Present Devotional: Living Word

e-Books: 5 Steps to Answer Prayer Anointed to Start and Finish Goal Setting & Goal Getting How to Be Filled with the Holy Spirit Turning your Weakness into Strength