Ghanaians have become like 'Kweku Ananse'; lying is their 'pastime' — Agyinasare

Founder and leader of Perez Chapel International, Archbishop Charles Agyinasare has lamented what he calls a growing culture of dishonesty among Ghanaians, warning that lying has become so commonplace that people increasingly measure cleverness by their ability to evade the truth.

Preaching on Sunday, October 11, 2026, Archbishop Agyinasare said dishonesty had become embedded in everyday interactions, with people resorting to falsehoods to avoid embarrassment, please others or gain personal advantage.

Delivering a sermon titled “The Venom of Falsehood – When Lies Become Weapons of Destruction,” the founder of Perez Chapel International questioned whether aspects of Ghanaian culture had inadvertently normalised deceit, citing the popular folklore character Kweku Ananse as an example.

“Lying has become a pastime, and cleverness is measured by how well we dodge the truth,” he said.

According to the archbishop, dishonesty often begins with seemingly harmless lies at home, including parents misleading their children and instructing them to deceive visitors.

He cited instances where parents tell children that the police are coming to frighten them into obedience or ask them to tell someone knocking at the door that they are not home when, in fact, they are.

He warned that such practices risk teaching children to regard dishonesty as an acceptable way of dealing with uncomfortable situations.

Archbishop Agyinasare stressed that lying extends beyond outright falsehoods to include half-truths, exaggerations, flattery, pretence, selective disclosure, doctored photographs and the circulation of fake news.

He urged Ghanaians to recognise these forms of deception, particularly in an era when information can easily be manipulated and shared widely through social media.

Lies can destroy lives and reputations

Drawing lessons from Genesis 39, the biblical account of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife, the archbishop explained how a false accusation could destroy an innocent person’s reputation, relationships and freedom.

In the biblical account, Joseph was imprisoned after Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him of attempting to assault her following his refusal to submit to her advances.

Archbishop Agyinasare said the story illustrated the devastating consequences of falsehood, warning that lies were never harmless, regardless of how small or convenient they might appear.

“One lie, told in one afternoon, cost an innocent man years of his life,” he said, referring to Joseph’s imprisonment.

He further cautioned that dishonesty could destroy trust within families, churches, friendships and business relationships, while also corrupting the conscience of the person who lies.

According to him, people who discover that they have been deceived may find it difficult to trust the offender again, even after an apology.

The archbishop also recounted examples of allegations and misrepresentations that, he said, had been circulated against public figures for attention and personal gain. He warned against spreading accusations without verifying their accuracy.