The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta, has described the funds being used for the National Cathedral as one out of the one-thousandth of the funds being used by the country in terms of expenditure.
Commenting on the constant question of if government has enough resources to fund the cathedral, he disclosed that government has spent over GHS30 billion in terms of expenditure this year and has only spent GHS25 million on the National Cathedral. “The funds being used for the Cathedral is one of the one-thousandth of the funds being used by the country.”
“If you look at the project, at any point in time, we should be making progress so that we have holistic way of developing in a sustainable way. And strongly, we believe that beyond the economic benefits that I can outline as the Finance Minister, is clearly the issue of building a righteous state in which the Lord promises that all this things ‘I will add on to you’.”
Ken Ofori Atta
Touching on why building the Cathedral is so important to the President and Ghanaians, the Finance Minister posited that the questions that are being asked should rather go to the heart and mind of who Ghanaians are as a people and the recognition of what God has done for the nation since its independence.
According to the Finance Minister, it is important that the nation shows gratitude to the Lord for how far He has brought it and all of the benefits that has been accrued to us as a nation.
“In there too is a recognition that 70 percent of the nation are people who embody certain beliefs and therefore, it is the nation’s responsibility to build the infrastructure to support what our beliefs are and that’s important.”
Ken Ofori Atta
Ken Ofori Atta was of the view that people get the misconception that the Cathedral is for church service but what government seeks to do is to create a space which major national celebrations can occur that will bring the type of unity that the government has envisaged the country needs going forwards. “So, it is important.”
Commenting on why the Cathedral which is supposed to be a symbol of unity is stirring issues, he averred that there are three pillars of nation building with regards to the nature of political independence. According to the Finance Minister, there is also the aspect of investment and trade to get the country into economic emancipation and the last pillar he stated, has to do with spirituality of the nation.
“So, with that third leg, we cannot grow and sustain our transformation without a holistic view. And I think we need to understand that.”
Ken Ofori Atta
Ken Ofori Atta averred that for the people to actually think that, that part of their life is not necessary, is cutting away the soul and spirit of the country.
People misunderstand what a cathedral is
Addressing the angst by the populace with regards to the National Cathedral, the Coordinator for the National Cathedral Project, Dr. Paul Opoku Mensah, intimated that the argument stems from the misunderstanding of what a cathedral is.
Explaining why they are carrying on with the project despite the numerous churches, Dr. Opoku Mensah, averred that it is a sacred space for the nation. He stated that if a closer look is taken at all nation building projects, there are sacred spaces which are part of nation building.
“All that infrastructure around is really what builds that sense of nationhood. And so, you have Macron saying that after the Notre Dame got burnt that, it is the epicenter of life.”
Dr. Paul Opoku Mensah
Dr. Mensah posited that the need for space for certain functions also heightened the desire to push the National Cathedral into existence. He cited the funeral of Kofi Annan where persons had to be begged to remain outside since the conference center was full.
“These are the practical nation building activities which that the country has lacked and that is what the President says that look, this is the missing link in the nation’s architecture.”
Dr. Paul Opoku Mensah
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