Mensa Otabil (born August 31, 1959), is a Ghanaian theologian, motivational speaker, and entrepreneur. He is the founder of International Central Gospel Church headquartered in Accra, Ghana. He is also the founder and Chancellor of Central University College, and CEO of Otabil and Associates, an executive and Leadership Growth Consultancy.
He currently oversees the International Central Gospel churches, which has a network of local assemblies in Ghana, Europe, the United States, Canada and other parts of Africa. He also serves as the senior pastor of Christ Temple, a ministry of the International Central Gospel Church. His work has centred on African issues, although he has spoken internationally at various conferences and churches. Mensa Anamua Otabil was born on 31 August 1959 to Dinah and Lloyd Otabil who lived on Asafo Street in Sekondi, in the Western Region of Ghana. He married his wife, Joy, in 1986 and they currently have four children.
In the late 1970s, he moved to Roman Ridge and later to Kanda in Accra where he joined the Kanda fellowship. Around that time, he also gained employment with the Audio Visual Department of the Ministry of Information. It was there that he met and worked with Edwin Donkor, who was later to become a pastor at ICGC. On 26 February 1984, he started the International Central Gospel Church ministry at the Kanda Cluster of Schools, and later moved to Sal Valley School, also in the Kanda area.
He serves as General Overseer of the Church and Senior Pastor of Christ Temple, Abossey Okai in Accra. Otabil has been awarded honorary doctorate degrees for his work in various fields. He was also a recipient of a Millennium Excellence Award. In 2007, he was honoured by the Government of Ghana with a state award, Order of the Volta (Religion).
In March 2018, Otabil, with Kofi Annan and Martin Amidu made it to the list of 100 Most Reputable Africans. The list also featured individuals from diverse sectors including Leadership, Entertainment, Advocacy, Education and Business. In 2015, Ghanaians voted him as the "Most Influential Person in Ghana", according to a list published by ETV Ghana.
He was, in 2013, considered the twenty-fourth most influential Ghanaian, in a poll run by ETV Ghana. Otabil presents a radio and television program called Living Word where he addresses life issues such as religion, education, economic development, family life, and politics. The program has been broadcast by several radio and television networks in Ghana. The show also runs on Matthew Ashimolowo's network KICC-TV, which reaches homes across Europe and into North Africa and parts of the Middle East.