Founder of Perez Chapel International, Archbishop Charles Agyinasare, has opened up about a turbulent past marked by youthful excesses, revealing how a dramatic encounter with faith redirected the course of his life.
Speaking in an interview with Borla Ray shared on Friday, April 17, the Archbishop reflected on his early years, describing a lifestyle fuelled by rebellion, substance use, and risky relationships.
According to him, his teenage years were defined by indulgence and poor choices.
He admitted to experimenting with drugs, alcohol, and tobacco while also engaging in multiple relationships at a young age.
“You see, it was exciting as a young man to get high and misbehave, chasing girls and getting into fights. I was into drugs, tobacco, and alcohol; I was very lustful,” he said.
“It felt exciting at the time—getting high, chasing girls, and getting into fights,” he recounted, noting that he was deeply immersed in that lifestyle during his adolescence.
He also shared a striking detail about his early relationships, revealing that at age 14, he was involved with a woman twice his age.
His family situation, including his parents’ divorce and his father’s relocation to Tamale, left him living in Accra with his sister—circumstances he suggested influenced his path.
“When I was 14, my girlfriend was 28. My parents divorced when I was seven, and at about age 12, my father was transferred to Tamale, so I stayed in Accra with my sister,” he added.
In a candid revelation, Archbishop Agyinasare disclosed that he was involved in a teenage pregnancy that resulted in an abortion, describing it as part of a pattern of reckless decisions during that period of his life.
“I had my first abortion at the age of 14 with a girl who was about 16 years old. There were several girls in my life. In fact, the girl who later led me to church was someone I was pursuing, and I was also interested in her senior sister”
However, his story took a turning point when his pursuit of a young woman led him to church. Ironically, she told him her boyfriend was Jesus Christ—a statement that piqued his curiosity and drew him to attend a service.
He recalled arriving at church under the influence of marijuana, sitting at the back with little interest in the service. But when an altar call was made, something shifted.
“So, I followed her to church. That day, I remember I was high on marijuana. I sat at the back, waiting for the service to end so I could take the girl along. But for the first time in my life, there was an altar call for those who wanted to receive Jesus and repent of their sins,” he added.
That moment, he said, marked the beginning of a life-changing transformation—one that ultimately led him from a troubled youth to becoming one of Ghana’s most prominent Christian leaders.
His story, he noted, stands as a testament to the power of change and the possibility of redemption, regardless of one’s past.
