The family of renowned Ghanaian preacher and founder of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), Pastor Mensa Otabil, has been thrown into mour
The family of renowned Ghanaian preacher and founder of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), Pastor Mensa Otabil, has been thrown into mourning following the passing of his mother-in-law, Evelyn Naa Otua Addo (née Bonney), the mother of his wife, Lady Joy Otabil.
Mrs Evelyn Naa Otua Addo reportedly passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 28, 2026, according to an official obituary jointly released by the Bonney and Addo families.
The announcement, described her passing as a painful loss to the family.
“The Bonney and Addo families announce with deep sadness the passing of our beloved mother and grandmother, Mrs Evelyn Naa Otua Addo, who peacefully entered into the presence of the Lord on Sunday, June 28, 2026,” the family stated in the obituary.
The family indicated that details regarding visitation, funeral arrangements and burial services will be announced in due course.
Naa Otua Addo was widely known as the wife of distinguished Ghanaian economist and statesman J.S. Addo, who served as Governor of the Bank of Ghana between March 1983 and June 1987.
Beyond his tenure at the central bank, Addo also served as a member of the Council of State and later became one of the co-founders and former Managing Director of Prudential Bank Limited, contributing significantly to the banking and financial sector.
According to available family records, Naa Otua Addo became J.S. Addo’s second wife following the death of his first wife, Mrs Ida Amatechoe Addo (née Laryea).
She is survived by her husband, two daughters—Lady Joy Otabil and Genevieve Naa-Aku Nettey—as well as seven grandchildren and several great-grandchildren, leaving behind a family that has played prominent roles in the religious, financial and social landscape.
Her daughter, Lady Joy Otabil, has over the years become one of Ghana’s most respected Christian women through her ministry alongside her husband, Pastor Mensa Otabil. Since their marriage in 1986, the couple has worked together in building the International Central Gospel Church into one of Ghana’s largest and most influential Christian denominations, with branches across Africa, Europe, North America and other parts of the world.
Apart from supporting her husband’s ministry, Lady Joy Otabil has also been recognised for her leadership in women’s ministry, mentoring programmes and family development initiatives within the church.
The couple are blessed with four children—Sompa, Nhyira, Yoofi and Baaba Aseda—and recently celebrated another family milestone when Lady Joy marked her 65th birthday in April 2026, just a few months before the passing of her mother.
The death of Mrs Evelyn Naa Otua Addo adds to a number of high-profile bereavements recorded in Ghana in recent months. Earlier this year, prominent New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Women’s Organiser Kate Gyamfua also lost her mother, Obaapanin Afia Nyarko, whose passing attracted condolences from political leaders and members of the public.
COMMENTS