A Belgian film probing Go Church Belgium has spotlighted serious claims against Ghanaian pastor Bishop Dag Heward‑Mills and his Lighthouse Chapel International ministry. The documentary features former senior clergy Emmanuel Oko Mensah and Lawrence Odonkor, both of whom now voice strong criticism of the church’s governance.
In the film, Mensah admits he felt "brainwashed" during his tenure, saying, “Absolutely. One hundred percent.” He also noted that the pressure comes from a blend of God, the church and the pastor. Yet in his own consecration speech he publicly thanked Heward‑Mills for being a patient father and for opening doors for him and others he described as flawed.
Odonkor, known as “Larry,” claims that problems within Lighthouse stem from the top, accusing Heward‑Mills of using his brilliance for evil, fame and money. He has a contentious legal record: a 2023 court in Madagascar convicted him of breach of trust over church funds, sentencing him to two years’ imprisonment and a ₵75 million fine. The judgment was delivered in his absence. In Ghana, an Accra Circuit Court acquitted him of dishonest appropriation in September 2023, a decision later challenged by the Attorney‑General.
The documentary also touches on a 2021 financial dispute involving six former Lighthouse pastors, including Mensah and Odonkor, who were said to have demanded a $12 million settlement. Lighthouse lawyers denied a formal demand; a mediator said the figure was a possible calculation during settlement talks. A 2022 settlement letter itemised claims totaling roughly $3 million, with a final column four times the sub‑totals, bringing the figure to $12.24 million.
Go Church Belgium has publicly disputed the allegations, stating that donations are voluntary and that its practices are lawful. The film encourages viewers to review the recordings, court documents and the church’s responses before forming an opinion.
Readers are urged to watch the documentary footage, examine the legal rulings and financial statements, and consider the contrasting testimonies of Mensah and Odonkor before deciding whether the criticisms hold weight.
