Secretary of Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral Project, Prophet Victor Kusi Boateng, has advised Ghanaians to desist from politicising the construction of the cathedral.
According to him, there should be a clear distinction when it trickles down to a project intended to benefit the entire nation.
His comment follows the Finance Minister’s budget reading in parliament where he urged Ghanaians to support the construction of the National Cathedral which is expected to be commissioned on March 6, 2024.
“We all have to understand that if we are to politicise this project, then every single project in this nation would be political.
“It doesn’t matter who brings the idea so far as it is a good idea and it is an idea that can benefit the masses of the nation, we have to be able to segregate it from politics.
“There is a difference between politics that benefits a section of the people and the implementation of ideas and policies that help build the nation, we’ve got to segregate it”.
Prophet Victor Kusi Boateng
Additionally, Prophet Boateng explained that the ongoing project when completed will bring a new dynamism to the tourism industry.
He further noted that some extensions have been added to the initially designed Cathedral. This, he indicated, will also include a Bible Museum, which will be the first of its kind in Africa.
National Cathedral to cost $200 million
Furthermore, Prophet Boateng revealed that the estimated cost of the ongoing construction is to be about $200 million.
He averred that the previous amount revealed by the Finance Minister was a preliminary amount which had not incorporated current expenditures.
“The $100 million figure as we heard from the Finance Minister’s own mouth was when we were still working on the Cathedral and we had not advanced from the Bible Museum to the Biblical gardens. We are still working on the figures but we have been informed that it will be more than the amount that it was pegged at.
“[So] let’s say with $200 million we should be able to do these things”.
Prophet Victor Kusi Boateng
Prophet Boateng was however hopeful that the citizenry will support the ‘Ketewa Biara Nsua’ programme which will be launched on Thursday, August 12 to mobilise funds for the project.
“It is just right for everyone who is a believer or non-believer to understand that the church has contributed so much and it has come to a point that the Church also needs the citizenry to support us build this National Cathedral. Besides the *979#, we are trusting God that we will get over 1 million people contributing.”
Prophet Victor Kusi Boateng
Finance Minister urges public to contribute towards National Cathedral
Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, during his 2021 Mid-Year review Budget Statement and Economic Policy presentation on July 29,2021, urged the public, including Members of Parliament, to be part of the one million Ghanaians projected to support the initiative dubbed, “Ketewa biara nsua” with GH₵100 a month.
Mr Ofori Atta noted Ghanaians could support the noble cause by dialling the short code *979#.
“We look forward to Mr Speaker and members of this august House joining the ‘¢100-a-Month Club’ and thus adding their names to the historic coalition that would build the National Cathedral to the glory of God and the edification of our nation and its people”.
Ken Ofori Atta
The building of the Cathedral is in fulfilment of a pledge President Akufo-Addo revealed he made to God before winning the 2016 elections.
As part of efforts to redeem his promise, government has demolished the houses of judges located on the proposed site for the construction of the National Cathedral at Ridge in Accra.
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