On Sunday, June 4th, Benjamin Ohene Aboagye, the Presiding Bishop of Perez Chapel International, announced a weeklong fast and prayers for all members throughout the world in response to the Nogokpo conflict.
At a church service, he declared the position of the Church’s Board Council on the Nogokpo situation on behalf of the Church’s founder, Archbishop Charles Agyinasare, who is now away on an international mission.
The head of the Perez Chapel International, Archbishop Charles Agyinasare, has denied any desire to insult the residents of Nogokpo or the Volta Region. On May 28, during a sermon at his Accra church, the Archbishop clarified that he had never intended to insult the people of Nogokpo or the Volta Region.
He said that he was merely trying to make a passing reference to something that took place following a crusade in the region.
“To drive home my point, I made reference to several instances where I have encountered manifestations of demonic powers in my crusades, which have taken me to over 92 countries in the world… I gave an example of people who were seeking to levitate during a crusade in India. I gave an example of an attack I suffered as a very young pastor who had gone to preach at a bus stop around Korle Bu,” he said.
“In reference to Nogokpo, I wish to clarify that I never intended to refer to the town but an incident that happened after a crusade at Aflao; I had absolutely no intention to cast a slur on the people of Nogokpo town and the Volta Region as a whole.”
“I have had a cordial relationship with the people of the Volta Region; my wife of 38 years is an Ewe from Keta, and two of my biological children bear Ewe names; all the examples I gave were not intended to denigrate any of the towns and their people, but to elucidate the principles of divine protection to congregants.” he added
Archbishop Agyinasare expressed his apologies for the controversy surrounding his comments and reaffirmed his dedication to his role as spiritual leader in Ghana.
The Archbishop gave a sermon regarding supernatural protection and the presence of evil powers at the recent summit held at the headquarters of Perez Chapel in Accra, using a number of instances to illustrate his points.
The media has been harsh in its condemnation of the church leader since the video went viral; in response, the people of Nogokpo have spoken out, with the Dufia of Nogokpo, Torgbi Saba V, issuing a statement.
Archbishop Charles Agyinasare was asked to appear before the religious leaders of Nogokpo in the Ketu South Municipality in 14 days. If the man of God does not come before the Chiefs, the Chiefs say they will be forced to take further action. After damaging the reputation of the city, the archbishop, in their view, must make amends.
