Accra, July 15, GNA – A former Lighthouse Chapel International (LCI) pastor has told an Accra High Court that several contributors supported the construction of the church’s Kade branch.
Pastor Edward Laryea said the project received support from the church’s headquarters, members of the Kade branch, his family and friends at different stages.
Giving evidence as a defence witness in an ongoing defamation suit filed by LCI against Manasseh Azure and three others, Pastor Laryea said “no one man built the church with his money.”
“It is yes but not absolutely because no one man built a church with his money. Because the mother church helped to send on missions as a missionary which is all part of the cost of building the church. The membership in Kade also helped to build at different times and my family and friends also helped to build at different stages,” he said.
When asked whether he personally built the church with his own funds, Pastor Laryea said: “my personal contribution to the physical building cannot be quantified.”
Counsel for LCI, Mr Kweku Paintsil, requested that the witness answer the question directly, while Counsel for the defendants, Mr Sampson Lardey Ayenini, objected, saying the witness should be allowed to explain his answer.
The court, presided over by Justice Comfort Kwasiwor Tasiame, directed the witness to answer either “yes” or “no”, with an explanation where necessary.
Pastor Laryea maintained that “the membership in Kade helped to build at different stages.”
He said LCI headquarters initially provided funding for the building before a new policy was introduced requiring local churches to continue projects.
He also confirmed that LCI provided him with a vehicle while he served as a missionary in Kade.
Pastor Laryea further admitted that under the new policy, local churches were required to manage their finances, including paying salaries, rent and other expenses.
“You pay your own salary, pay the church’s rent, you can travel to any part of the world as you wish and as often as you wish from your church’s coffers.
“You can increase your salary as much as you want and take care of your life,” he said.
LCI sued Mr Manasseh Azure, Mr Edwin Appiah, Mr Sulemana Braimah and the Media Foundation for West Africa for defamation over a series of publications titled “Darkness in a Lighthouse”.
Pastor Laryea and five other former LCI pastors — Larry Odonkor, Oko Mensah, Seth Duncan, Edem Amankwah and Faith Makafui Fiakojo — granted interviews to the defendants for the publications.
The publications alleged that LCI exploited former pastors through a policy known as “Become Who You Can Become”, under which they were encouraged to use personal funds to finance church buildings and schools with assurances that they would not be transferred and would eventually own the facilities.
The publications further alleged that after the pastors financed the projects, they were transferred and the church took control of the buildings.
In relation to Pastor Laryea, the publication used a picture of the Kade Lighthouse Church building with the caption: “The Church in Kade, Rev. Edward Laryea says he built by the grace of God from ground zero”.
It also stated that Pastor Laryea and his wife used their salaries to purchase building materials and generate funds for the construction.
The case has been adjourned to July 28, 2026, for the continuation of cross-examination of Pastor Laryea.
Pastor Larry Odonkor, another former LCI pastor, is expected to be cross-examined after Pastor Laryea.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: Joyce Danso