The Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has asserted that the National Cathedral project is not a misplaced priority as being claimed by some persons and stakeholders.
Commenting on the new development which has stirred numerous controversial claims, Vincent Assafuah indicated that this is just one of the numerous projects being undertaken by government.
“It’s not a misplaced priority. Government has embarked on a number of projects including the free senior high school initiative to help the people of this country.”
Vincent Ekow Assafuah
The Old Tafo MP intimated that the Finance Ministry informed Parliament that the government was going to make a seed capital available for the project. As such, he posited that he does not understand the issues being raised against the GHS25 million earmarked by the government for the project.
Also sharing his view on the GHS25 million National Cathedral seed, private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu intimated that he finds it hard to understand why government is bent on establishing the National Cathedral amidst the current economic challenges.
“This Cathedral conversation is quite dicey. It is all about timing, and I do not think this is the right time to push for such a project. Indeed, we are all religious people, I am a Catholic, and so I know the essence of the church. But because we are currently hard-pressed for money as a nation, I do not think this should be the focus of the nation now.”
Martin Kpebu
Cathedral, a misplaced priority
Mr. Kpebu was however of the view that, the cathedral is a misplaced priority. He then admonished Christian leaders in the country to also declare their position on the matter.
“It is even time for the religious leaders to assess where they stand on this matter. The Board of trustees comprises all the top Christian leaders you can find in Ghana and yet see how the public is resisting the project. This should be a strong message to our leaders that the society is constantly evolving.”
Martin Kpebu
The legal practitioner suggested that government could shelve the project for now and then when things are better, it could take it up again. “It is not as though the country is short of places of worship.”
The Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Finance authorized the release of GHS25 million for the construction of the National Cathedral in Accra. A letter written to the Controller and Accountant General Department (CAGD) by the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori Atta said; “Authority is hereby granted to release the sum of 25million Ghana Cedis as additional seed money to the National Cathedral Secretariat for the construction of the National Cathedral for part payment of the outstanding claim from RIBADE.”
This, has however, not settled well with lots of Ghanaians who have intimated that government should prioritize the well being of the people looking at the current state of the economy, rather than building the cathedral.
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