Kojo Nana Obiri-Yeboah

Kojo Nana Obiri-Yeboah is a prominent Pentecostal pastor from Ghana who is active primarily in Uganda. He is the son of evangelical pastor John Obiri-Yeboah who was a well-known preacher in Uganda in the 1970s and 80s. His father was known for performing apparent miracles in his services.[1]

Education

Kojo Nana Obiri-Yeboah attended Joseph Strechen Junior School and Aquinas Secondary School in Ghana. He continued his education in England, at Dulwich College and later Christ College in Blackheath, London. After a time helping out at his family's pineapple farm in Ghana, he returned to England to pursue a Diploma in Agriculture at Vauxhall College.[2]

Back in Ghana, he managed the family farm and a travel business. There, he felt called to serve God. He later enrolled at Bulham College in London and Pembetchy Bible College in Denmark for Bible studies. Preaching in Ghana and England, he established "We Are One Ministry".[2]

Electric toy controversy

In July 2007, Yeboah came under international scrutiny after Ugandan police confiscated a small electric shock toy in his possession.[3] The police have asserted that devices of that sort were likely used by Obiri-Yeboah to give small electric shocks to people in services, making the people think that they had felt the intervention of the divine. Police responded with particular swiftness due to recent worries about con-artists and general miracle cures in Uganda since there are many such miracles and devices which claim to be able to cure HIV/AIDS which is currently an epidemic in Uganda.[4] The events with Obiri-Yeboah prompted the police to engage in wider investigation of pastors claiming to produce miracles in Uganda,[5] with the support of other pastors such as the crusading Solomon Male.[6]

Yeboah claims that the event was an unsuccessful attempt to frame him.[7]

In March 2009, Nana was acquitted of all charges made against him by the Ugandan Police. It was found that Nana was set up by other pastors who aimed to damage his image and that of his church. Since 2012 Nana has established various charities and churches under his organization 'We Are One In Christ' which is based around Africa and Europe. The charity provides clothes and food for orphans and other vulnerable individuals.[8]

References

  1. One on one with the ‘electric’ pastor, Sunday Monitor, July 15, 2007. Copy at AllAfrica.com at WebCite (archived 2011-01-10)
  2. 1 2 Who is Rev. Kojo Obiri Yeboah?, Stephen Ssenkaaba and Elvis Basudde, AllAfrica.com, 17 July 2007. Archived 2011-01-10 at WebCite
  3. allAfrica.com: Uganda: Interpol Probes Pastor's Gadget Archived December 20, 2010, at WebCite
  4. Ugandan police seize magic trick from preacher, Reuters, July 10, 2007 Archived December 20, 2010, at WebCite
  5. allAfrica.com: Uganda: Police to Produce Detailed Report On Fake Pastors Archived December 20, 2010, at WebCite
  6. The pastor’s tricks: An insider’s testimony, Sunday Monitor, October 3, 2007 Archived 2011-01-10 at WebCite
  7. The truth behind the electric gadget, Sunday Monitor, January 11, 2009
  8. http://i59.tinypic.com/14b4a6c.jpg

Nana has four children; three children from his wife of 14 years and one son who resides in Ghana.

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