Open Letter To Pastor Mensa Otabil

Dear Pastor,
GENERATIONAL THINKERS COULD BE SELFISH
It is obvious that your name is on everyone’s lips recently because of the unfortunate mess-up at Capital bank, as with the others. ‘Ghanafo kasa’ so this will definitely attract debates, discussions, criticisms, rebuttals etc. as usual and subside. This is a case of either human error, or carelessness, recklessness, negligence, greed, incompetence or whatever, directly or collaterally. The point worth considering is, has it never happened before? Sure it has, many times over, some exposed, and the others still in closets. Then too, as the saying goes “He who is without blemish, let them cast the first stone.” (John 8:7)

Pastor, having been blessed with such a following I suppose you could say that not all would be genuine friends; some will be enemies, frenemies and all sorts. So take it cool, to err is human and “Men of God” are no exception, even as they are better prepared to face tribulations in life. All these are better understood in relation to the end-time prophesies and "Prosperity Pastors" that the bible talks about. I know that if it comes to refunding monies and/or paying penalties, you will do it happily.

Pastor, I have a problem though with one of your messages which has incidentally been made popular by the radio personality Adakabre on Neat (100.9)Fm in Accra. This is the one with the “Generational Thinkers” as the topic. As a Truth Advocate, I was not comfortable with the core message which encouraged the amassing and securing of wealth to as far as one’s fourth generation! The plundering and reckless use of our global natural resources is resulting from the race for such fanciful piling of wealth.

I felt the need to connect for a look at that, and did so about a year ago through your Facebook page. I got no reply, but have a strong feeling that you read that message. Incidentally, the recent mismanagements at our banks, have called for the mention of this to a third person (the publisher in this case) as the bible teaches. It is also worth hinting that a recent Facebook post of Mr Essien (CEO of embattled Capital Bank) extols the teachings of Pastor Otabil which has inspired him since age fifteen through into his entrepreneurial life today as a banker.

My argument was that for any given period in time, the resources available have to be shared/utilized equitably among the living first and the rest kept for the future, so that few are those who would have cause to feel disadvantaged in the present. If those living now are not catered for with the available resources, “hoarding” them for unborn generations by any person or group of persons, will amount to SELFISHNESS. So "Generation Thinkers" could be selfish thinkers.

Obviously training to empower the next generation adequately is all that fairness requires. Because a knowledgeable person is capable of handling their situations. Let us note that however well a child is endowed, it takes the quality of life of neighbors around them to make their own life exciting and it is this "hoarding" mentality that feeds the pervasive greed Ghana has suffered so far.

Yours in the service of God and country,
Kwabena Ofori-Panin
(Part 2: GOD'S MONEY SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR COMMERCIAL INVESTMENT?)