Defiant Akufo-Addo To Go Ahead With Building National Cathedral Despite Huge Outcry From Ghanaians
Despite significant criticism, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has vowed to go ahead with the building of the contentious National Cathedral.
He elaborated on how the Cathedral would serve as more than a place of worship, but also as a symbol of the Christian religion in the country and a focal point for the whole Christian community to gather for worship.
After donating GH100,000 to the stalled National Cathedral’s construction, the President made the following statement: “As I have said before, the National Cathedral will not just be another monument adorning the skyline of Accra, it will be a rallying point for the entire Christian community to come together and worship… So, to God’s honour, I will work diligently with the Board of Trustees to see this through to its conclusion.
In December of 2022, Parliament voted against spending GH80 million on the National Cathedral.
After a decision to reinstate the funding in the government’s budget projections for the Ministry of Roads and Highways and the Ministry of Communication, the proposal was thrown out.
It was originally budgeted that the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture would get GH260 million in 2023, however, the House later reduced this amount to GH180 million.
In March 2017, the government proposed spending $450 million on the National Cathedral project to create a tangible symbol of the nation’s spirituality, togetherness, and cohesion.
The planned interfaith cathedral will have a baptistery, chapels, and a large auditorium that can hold up to 5,000 people.
