Toronto Pastor Accused of Sexual Misconduct and Financial Exploitation by Multiple Victims

Jodi says she remembers her hands shaking as her married pastor — the man she had for months been told to call “dad” — pulled her onto his lap on a cream-coloured couch in his ministry office.

Just 16 years old at the time, Jodi says she froze as Kofi Danso, a self-described “Man of God,” prophet and the leader of Miracle Arena church, then located in North York, Ont., began to unbutton her pants.

“He was like, ‘Just know that I’m here … I’m your dad.’ He’s whispering these things to me while he’s kissing my neck and fingering me,” the woman, now in her 20s, said in an interview with the Investigative Journalism Bureau (IJB).

Jodi, whose identity is being protected because she fears repercussions for speaking out, is one of more than a dozen people who have spoken to the Investigative Journalism Bureau (IJB) alleging they experienced either sexual misconduct or financial manipulation at Miracle Arena For All Nations Church, now located in Vaughan, Ont. north of Toronto.

Danso, 44, declined interview requests from the IJB but provided a detailed written response to questions through his lawyer, in which he denies “all allegations of sexual abuse, including allegations of sexual relations with a minor.” He also denies allegations of financial exploitation. A regional police force confirmed it had investigated some sexual claims, but has closed that investigation and has not charged him with a criminal offence.

The statement from Danso’s lawyer says many of his parishioners call him “papa” as a sign of “respect and deference” common in his native Ghana.

“These cultural terms should be viewed in the context of Ghanaian culture,” it reads, adding that many of his parishioners are Ghanaian. “In the 15 years of the Miracle Arena’s existence, there have not been any allegations made against Mr. Danso or brought to the attention of Miracle Arena.”

Miracle Arena is a “charismatic” church situated on a gated 12-acre compound north of Toronto. It’s run by senior pastor Danso and his wife, JoAnne, who claim to “demonstrate the power of God through miracles, signs and wonders” to hundreds of congregants each week — many of whom are refugees or immigrants.

Some have been housed on-site in makeshift shelters or inside the church buildings while others say they have been asked to work for the Danso family to care for the couple’s children and have moved into their home.

Jodi is one of five women interviewed by the IJB who allege Danso engaged in a range of sexual misconduct, including grooming, arranging sexual encounters with them in his church office and arranging for them to have sex with visiting pastors.

Source: Read the original report