Heward-Mills’ church closed …Kumasi youth beat war drums

The main branch of the Lighthouse Chapel International (LCI) at Bantama in Kumasi was locked up Sunday morning to prevent members from attending church service; the outcome of an unsolved brouhaha between the church and several angry Asante youth groups.

The angry youth groups, had warned at a press conference last week that all branches of the Lighthouse Chapel International in the Ashanti region would be shutdown within 48 hours if founder of the church, Bishop Dag Heward-Mills does not appear in person at the Manhyia Palace to apologize for and retract insulting statements he spoke against Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene.

It is suspected that the locking up of the Bantama branch of LCI on Sunday morning was done by the angry youth groups because there were notices posted on the door of the church which read: “Lighthouse Chapel Closed by Asante Force.”

None of the youth groups had however owned up as at Sunday night to claim responsibility for locking up the church.

Bishop Dag has admitted to have said some disrespectful and insulting words about the Asantehene and he has accordingly issued a public statement to apologize.

He explained the words were spoken over 20 years ago but had been cut out and presented to the public now by some aggrieved former pastors of his church.

However the angry youth groups say they feel even more disrespected by the mode of the apology and the tone and context it was write; therefore they insist Bishop Dag appears in person before their King or face their wrath.

The angry groups include the Kumasi Youth Association KUYA, Asante Youth Association (AYA), Asante Zongo Youth Association (AZOYU), Asante Students Union (ASU) and Mponponsuo in the United States of America (USA).

The Bishop is not on record to have gone to see the King in person.

Delay of Church Service

According to reports, most of the church members did not show up for church on Sunday morning because of the earlier threats by the Asante youth groups to lock their churches.

The few church members that decided to go to church on Sunday were also met with fear as they saw huge padlocks and chains that have been used to lock the church.

Reports indicated that it took some hours before the leadership of the church was able to cut open the big padlocks.

Church service for the day was therefore delayed and rather brief.

More Attacks

Checks made by the paper indicated that Sunday’s temporal closure of the church was one of many planned attacks on LCI in the Ashanti Region.

Meanwhile, Bishop Dag had issued a statement to offer a public apology.

The statement dated June 19, 2021 and issued on the letter head of LCI read:

“I am deeply saddened that a message I shared at a conference, nearly 20 years ago, has been taken out of its context and circulated by persons who have previously declared that they will maliciously cause our churches in Kumasi to be closed down.

“I apologize, unreservedly, to His Majesty Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II for any disrespect, insult or harm caused him or his Royal Court. Please accept my profound apologies for the statements I made.

“Indeed, the accomplishments of Your Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II are evident and manifest for all to see. His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who is also the Chancellor of KNUST and the supporter of education, has helped develop the infrastructure of 788 schools, built 40 complete 6 Unit classroom blocks; and donated over 1 million desks.

“I deeply regret that my words spoken 20 years ago have offended this honourable institution which has worked tirelessly for many years to make Ghana and the world a better place for all of us to live in.

“I wish to thank His Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for his graciousness in this matter.’

Signed

Bishop Dag Heward-Mills