A Canadian judge, Justice Fred Myers, on Tuesday dismissed a request by a pastor, Martin Kofi Danso, to extend a publication ban that would keep his identity secret in a paternity case just because the publicity could damage his reputation and hurt him financially.
Myers removed the publication ban, which another judge had imposed at the end of July, exposing the pastor, who was in court on allegations that he had fathered a six-month-old child with former church member, Chris-Ann Bartley.
Martin Kofi Danso, who is the founder of Miracle Arena for All Nations, which operates 17 churches had in a sworn affidavit filed with the court claimed he had never had intimate relations with Bartley.
Danso’s lawyer, Daniel Robertson, argued that without anonymity, his client will face “emotional, harm, and stress,” particularly if allegations involving other members of the church are released to the broader public.
“He’s a public figure. He is not someone who will not be harmed by certain allegations,” Robertson said.
“It cuts both ways, doesn’t it?” replied the judge. “That also brings about the possibility of a public interest when somebody’s out there with 17 churches raising charitable money and tells a couple of big, fat whoppers in a sworn affidavit.”
According to the Miracle Arena website,
“Prophet Danso” is a devoted father of four who travels the world “impacting and empowering millions of lives through his powerful preaching and teaching ministry.”
His wife, JoAnne Danso, is a reverend in the church known as “Mama.”
Court heard Tuesday she is expecting twins in the near future.
BBC
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