Full statement by Nogokpo chiefs to Archbishop Charles Agyinasare over "demonic headquarters comments"

Share This Information

The Chiefs and people of Nogokpo have for the first time held a press conference at Nogokpo to address the derogatory statement made by Perez Chapel International’s founder, Archbishop Charles Agyin Asare about the people of Nogokpo.

The press conference took place yesterday, June 2, 2023, at Nogokpo. The gathering was attended by Torgbi Agbesi Awusu II – Awadada of Anlo State, Torgbui Adamah III – Fiaga of Some Traditional Council, Torgbui Addo VIII – Fiaga of Klikor Traditional Council, Torgbui Adzongaga Amenya Fiti V – Fiaga of Aflao Traditional Council, Torgbui Adrakpanya V – Fiaga of Afife Traditional Council, Torgbui Ashiagbor IV – Dusifiaga of Weta Traditional Area, Torgbui Ege IV – Dutor Fia of Dzodze Fiagbedu, Torgbui Sabah V – Dufia of Nogokpo, Mama Ladzeshie of Zakadza Temple, High Priests, and Priestesses, Assemblyman for Ativuta-Nogokpo- Agbevekorpe Electoral Area, Torgbuiwo and Mamawo, the Media and many other people both natives and non-natives.

The press conference addressed the eating-up comment and announced that Archbishop Charles Agyin Asare should meet them in person for a peace talk about his statement after 14 days.

The statement reads:

We, the Chiefs and people of Nogokpo in the Ketu South Municipality of Volta Region, give 14 Days Ultimatum to Archbishop Dr. Charles Agyin Asare, the founder of Perez Chapel International, to meet us in person for peace talk about a statement he made that, “NOGOKPO IS THE DEMONIC HEADQUARTERS OF VOLTA REGION…..”. He made this derogatory statement when he was preaching in a summit at Perez Dome in Accra on May, 2023. In the sermon, he recalled an experience he had alongside with his co-pastor at Nogokpo after attending a crusade in Aflao.

1. That having listened to the second trending statement he made on Sunday, 28th May, 2023, he did not show any remorse of regretfulness, an indication that he deliberately decided to tarnish the good reputations of the people of Nogokpo.

2. That per our understanding and that of the dictionary meaning (Longman, 2007), he explicitly meant Nogokpo is the headquarters of all wild, cruel, and evil people in Volta Region. Perhaps, he might not know the town, Nogokpo, very well.

3. That for evidence-based testimony, we want to make it known to him and the general public that when Osagyfo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the 1st President of Ghana, explored all avenues to gain independence for Ghana but all to no avail, he finally visited NOGOKPO and sought divine assistance from the Thunder Deity, TORGBUI ZAKADZA.

4. That it is an open secret Nogokpo is situated along ECOWAS highway where thousands of vehicles that carry goods and human beings ply the route on daily basis but none of them has ever made such derogatory comment about the town.

5. That the community has never engaged in any inhuman activities or compromised the good reputations for any material gains since time in memory.

6. That we, the people of Nogokpo, are very peaceful, tolerant and have been demonstrating a higher level of decorum and love to neighboring tribes, devoid of their negative tribal sentiments.

7. That though Asare’s comment is too irritating and condemnable enough to result in a direct confrontation, we still remain agent of peace.

8. That we are aware the nonchalant attitudes of some leaders in addressing such religious attacks in other parts of the world are the result of the upsurge in violence we have been witnessing.

9. That it is expected that this 14 days ultimatum given to Agyin Asare would serve as a peremptory to do the needful but his rejection might compel us to advise ourselves.

10. That his message that day was just calculated damage mechanism of the usual religious intolerance to weaken African Traditional Religion in the face of the congregation.

That we are the custodians of NOGOKPO so do not want to compromise our ethics, ethos and core values for self-centeredness. We, therefore, wish to petition the Peace Council and the Christian Council to help ARCBISHOP AGYIN ASARE to appear before us within 14 days for amicable resolution.

We also wish to appeal to the office of the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ketu South Municipal Assembly, Some Traditional Council, BNI, IGP, and National Security to bring Agyin Asare and the likes to book.