Moderator, two others accused of registering Church's Water Company in their private names 

Right Rev Dr Lt Col Bliss Divine Agbeko, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana (EPCG) and some two other top officials of the Church have been accused of allegedly registering the Church’s Prime Natural Mineral Drinking Water Limited in their private names.

The other two officers are Rev Daniel Torvinyo Director of Finance and Ms Eyram Wordemekpor, Director of the Church’s Development and Relief Agency and Lawyer Dick Anyadi, a non-clergy Trustee.

The accusations were levelled against them in an 'Open Letter' headlined “E.P. Church Ghana Prime Natural Mineral Drinking Water Company Limited. Response to the governance and stewardship “review” of Prime Natural Mineral Drinking Water Limited,” by Rev Dr Francis Amaglo, Minister of the Church and sighted by the Ghana News Agency.

They were also accused of infractions on the Company’s Act, 2019 by failing to file annual returns, omission of Directors emoluments from financial notes, failure to keep proper books of accounts, conflict of appointment and remuneration, potential breach of fiduciary and invalid company Secretary appointment.

Infractions on the EPCG constitution include holding shares in personal names, Directors not appointed by General Assembly of the Church, dual managerial financial benefits for Trustees and artificial draining of corporate cash.

On the audited accounts for 2024 and 2025, Rev Dr Amaglo accused them of highlighting the cost of sales outpaced revenue growth, technical insolvency, shrinking total corporate asset base and proper books of accounts not kept.

He also accused the Moderator of conflicting roles of majority shareholder and owner of the Water Company, beneficial owner, director of the company, chairperson of the General Assembly Executive Council, Trustee of the EPCG and Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church.

On Ms Wordemekpor, she was also accused of being the Director of the EPDRA and at the same time Secretary of the Prime Water Company.

Rev Dr Amaglo stated that this was not a personal attack but they wanted things to be done right at the company which was a church institution.

He said the Business and Investment Committee of the Church should be made to oversee the church’s Income generation ventures and no other committee to oversee the church’s institutions and that decisions concerning the church should not be left solely in the hands of the Moderator.

Rev Dr Dzanku, Clerk of the General Assembly of the Church responding to the accusations debunked the impression stating that members serving on boards and committees of the Church did not automatically become entitled to additional salaries by virtue of such services.

He added that the trio have not received any unauthorized salaries from Prime Natural Mineral Drinking Water Limited.

He debunked the impression created by “a biased review” suggesting that the company was established without the knowledge and involvement of the Church.

“The assertion is entirely inconsistent with the documented history of the project and the EPCG rejects any attempt to elevate speculative conclusions into established facts,” he said.

Rev Dr Dzanku said that members serving on Boards and committees of the Church did not automatically become entitled to additional salaries by virtue of such services.

He said, “I therefore reject in no uncertain terms attempts to discredit officers of the Church based on speculation rather than facts."

Rev Dzanku noted that the proof of guilt therefore laid on those making the allegations adding “speculation is not evidence, questions are not proof, suspicion is not fact and until verifiable evidence is produced, those allegations remain nothing more than a conjecture.”

“We should therefore put on the records that there has never been payment of any hidden salaries, allowances, stipends or any form of emoluments to the benefits or compensations for the said officers including payroll records, board resolutions, payment vouchers audited disclosures and bank records,” he said.

Rev Dr Dzanku admonished all members of the Church to guard their tongues, resist the temptation to spread unverified stories and commit themselves to building up the body of Christ in love and unity.

GNA