The Tema Development Corporation (TDC) has demolished a church auditorium being put up by Bishop Daniel Obinim, the Founder and General overseer of the International God’s Way Church in Tema, Greater Accra region.
According to information, the TDC taskforce visited the church at Community 9, Tema on Thursday and demolished the hall, which was under construction for allegedly not having a building permit.
Bishop Obinim was said to have secured permit from the TDC to only build stores and restaurants on the same piece of land around the Tema Motorway roundabout, but did not secure permit for the construction of the church, hence the demolition of the auditorium after several warnings.
The Bishop, together with some of his followers, was said to have besieged the premises of the TDC after the demolition exercise, but they were driven away by security men of the corporation.
A visit to the premises revealed that the church, which was at foundation level and surrounded by several storey buildings, had black inscription on it that read, “Stop Work by TDC, 13-2- 2014.”
Although the auditorium had been demolished, DAILY GUIDE spotted some members of the church and artisans at the premises the following day busily working to rebuild the structure, while others were seen conveying broken cement blocks out of the demolished auditorium.
Bishop Obinim was also seen at the scene with some church members deliberating on the issue before leaving the place to lodge a complaint with the Tema Police.
Rev. Adu Boahene, administrator of the church, who confirmed the demolition to DAILY GUIDE, stressed that the founder of the church had secured permit from TDC to build on the land.
“We have been warned by the police not to speak with any media person, but what I can say is that the law will take its course.
The Community 1 District Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Victor Amerdeke, also confirmed that his outfit received report from the General Overseer about the demolition of his church auditorium by the taskforce of TDC and that investigations had been instituted into the matter.
When contacted via telephone, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the TDC, Dorothy Asare-Kumah, mentioned that Bishop Obinim only secured permit to build stores and restaurant on the land and not a church.