Prez Mahama, please tell your surrogates to leave me alone for I'm but a simple pastor – Mensa Otabil

The General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church, Pastor Mensa Otabil has responded in clearest terms yet to what he calls evil attempts to expose him to public ridicule "and the running harassment against my integrity.”

He said the doctoring and manipulation of his sermons over the years to give them political twists was defamatory, unethical, criminal, malicious and evil.

In the past few weeks, tape after tape have released in which the venerable preacher has been heard making comments that criticize the political promises the opposition New Patriotic Party.

The first tape had Dr. Otabil arguing that free Senior High School education, contrary to the promise of the NPP flag-beater Nana Akufo-Addo, could never be possible.

The tape received wide publicity, prompting the church to release a statement denouncing the tape as "collection of thoughts edited from a message shared by Pastor Otabil several years ago and pieced together to create the impression that he is taking a stand on the current political debate on the issue of education.”

That did not deter those bent on using Dr. Otabil's sermons for political purposes and they released many more tapes.

At this point, he said, “…I realized that I was dealing with a marauding and bullying force that was bent on impugning my name and integrity without shame.”

“But for the mischief and persistence, I would have remained quiet on this matter,” he added.

More soon.