The Founder of the Perez Chapel International, Bishop Charles Agyinasare, has stated that the transfer of power from an outgoing president to an incoming president in Ghana, always result in the discontinuity and abandoning of projects and policies which he believes, is divisive and damaging to the development of the country.
The outspoken personality, expressing his disappointment in governments for abandoning projects and policies iterated that, his national transformation agenda which started years ago for the youth was tailored to creating awareness on such issues and educating youths on the need to grow the economy,
However, he noted that the current national transformation agenda is directed at every citizen of the country.
“For me, irrespective of our successes as a nation, there is so much to be done. The one hundred and ten gallopers that Rawlings bought at the tail end of his presidency, wasn’t used when Kufuor came, and as at last year or early this year, those gallopers have been reduced to nothing and we have to pay judgement debt of $1 billion to the company.
“When Kufuor came, he said there was a deficit of housing, and so we needed affordable housing, he built affordable housing and Professor John Evans Mills and John Mahama came, and those buildings haven’t been used. We have seen John Mahama build schools and hospitals; built other things and President Akufo-Addo comes and his government says we won’t use it. Those monies used in building infrastructure are not their personal monies, it is our national money.”
According to the Presiding Bishop, loans taken for developmental projects and programs, to boost economic activities in the county are mismanaged by governments that come into power.
“Meanwhile, we always have a budget deficit. So, we have to always borrow to be able to make our budget work. So, we go cup in hand, to donor countries collecting monies and we collect the money and we misuse it; for me it is a misuse. Is there not a cause for me to talk about it?”
Speaking on the lockdown show, he noted that people who truly want to serve the nation are terrified about doing so, because of the perception that politicians are tagged with. According to him, politicians are branded thieves because of their behavior towards developing the nation and should change the narrative, in order the make the profession appealing for prospective politicians.
With regards to having enemies, he iterated that, he considers himself a preacher fulfilling a prophetic role, which is to speak into the conscience of the nation.
“When Jesus was on earth, when he met the fishermen, he spoke about fish, when he met the farmers, he spoke about farming, when he met jewelers, he spoke about gold and so for me, in a country where we have these situations, I will talk about these things.”
However, he expressed his delight in government for releasing GH¢3.5 billion for the purpose of settling all outstanding claims of depositors of defunct financial institutions, including savings and loans firms.
He was of the view that, his comments were part of the reasons that propelled the president to make the decision on the release of funds to customers of the defunct banks.
Explaining his relationship with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, he noted that it will be a privilege for the President to fellowship in his church, reiterating that there is no long-standing issue between the first gentleman of the nation and himself.
“In-fact, my dad passed away last year, and the President was out of the country. He sent a high-powered delegation made up of the Chief of Staff, Dr. Hamid, some other ministers of state; high-powered delegation. I felt so honored. I get amazed about how the people get the perception that we are enemies.”
Also touching on the division of the Christian fraternity along party lines, he intimated that, it is not wrong for Christians to have political affiliations and should be given the chance to decide which party they belong to.
Without mincing words, Bishop Charles Agyinasare iterated that, religious bodies are developmental partners.
“Anytime the government has economic problems, then politicians begin to float their ideas on taxing the church, but that will be a wrong move because, the church has always been a partner in the development of this country. The church has built schools; universities, training colleges, hospitals. Look at when COVID-19 came, the church of Pentecost used their vans and their conference center at Kasoa, was used as an isolation center. So, churches are not enemies to the state.”
However, he intimated that virtual preaching in the COVID-19 era is one of the ways of reaching the audience though the result differs from having a face to face church service, “amazingly you get more tired with the virtual than when you are doing it with people. I don’t know what happens, but the people’s reaction has a way of energizing you and the virtual has no one responding,” he said.
Up close and personal, Bishop Agyinasare revealed that his family is accustomed to his controversial behavior, supporting him at every given opportunity.
“My family is gotten used to my calling and so, instead they pray for me; my wife prays for me, my children pray for me. There are times they edit the things I want to say when I write them.”
He advised that, the youth should not be in a haste to make money but rather, tread carefully in order to have a successful life.
