“Bishop” Daniel Obinim Must Be Called To Order

ExLA Group Gender Programme (EGGP) would like to draw to the attention of gender, humanitarian and security agencies, a video circulating on social media. In this unwholesome video, a purported “Bishop” is seen physically abusing a young man and a young lady. Their crime…? The young man has impregnated the young lady!

From a gender perspective, the act is a drawback to the meaningful gains made in the fight against gender-based violence in Ghana. Gender-based violence is prevalent in Ghana and over the years, advocacies against the ill have relied on some ‘public figures’ to send the message across. It is therefore quite unfortunate to wake up to the known of a circulating video where a “Man of God” is perpetrating such act publicly.

Considering the large following of Bishop Daniel Obinim of the International Godsway Church, it is uneasy to overlook the harm his unwarranted action could cause. Interestingly, he had the backing of some cheering members while he perpetrated the act and asked his “disciples” to do same to the victims.

Moreover, the video reveals that the lady victim in the abuse is allegedly pregnant which clearly poses serious threat to the health of both the expectant mother and the foetus.

From a security perspective, the act remains a violation against the rights of these young individuals to decide what to do with their sexuality as much as society or religion might influence it, especially when they both consented to it. As much as we do not encourage unhealthy and inadvertent sexual relations that lead to undesirable consequences, we do not believe Bishop Obinim has any right whatsoever to humiliate and abuse the victims the way it happened. The irony in this whole video is that, the perpetrator of the abuse himself once confessed to cheating on his wife and could not even tolerate the issue being discussed in the media.

We call on the security agencies responsible for handling issues of abuse to launch an immediate investigation into the matter notwithstanding the video and bring the perpetrators to book. We believe Ghana will progress if the citizenry will witness the prosecution of law breakers.

Signed
Daniel Osei Tuffuor
Executive Director
ExLA Group
0246 489 782