Quick Facts
Biography
Daniel Obinim, also known as Bishop Obinim or Angel Obinim (b. 29 August, 1977), is a Ghanaian pastor known for self-proclaimed spiritual powers and extreme Christian practiceswhich have often sparked national outrage for infringement on rights of church members. Many have accused him of being a bogus preacher. Obinim is the Head Pastor of the International Godsway Ministries.
Controversies
Stepping on pregnant woman
In 2014 Obinim was seen on television stepping on the belly of a pregnant woman to exorcise her. This led the Amnesty International in Ghana to call for his prosecution for assault.
Declarations
Daniel Obinim has made several public controversial declarations. He declared he was an angel, which led to the name "Angel Obinim" given to him by his church. He also seemed to have conjured a passport for a church member who lost his. In 2016, he told his church he could transform himself and others into objects and animals. Jon Benjamin, the British High Commissioner to Ghana, ridiculed him for these claims over Twitter.
2016 flogging case
Obinim in August 2016 publicly flogged two teenagers, one of whom was pregnant, on live television, accusing them of fornicating and conspiring to abort a pregnancy, leading to public outcry, after the video also went viral on social media. Ghana's Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Protection Nana Oye Lithur herself led a campaign for his arrest, by lodging a complaint to the Ghana Police Service Domestic Violence and Victims’ Support Unit (DOVVSU). He was subsequently arrested.
Following the arrest, hundreds of his church members besieged the police station where he was held to demand his release, a move that was seen to be the first of its kind involving a religious leader. They also threatened not to vote for the current government in Ghana's upcoming election in December 2016 if Obinim is not released. The protesters were dispersed with a water cannon.