Speaker Oquaye rallies support for National Cathedral project

Speaker of Parliament Rev Prof Aaron Michael Oqauye is rallying support for the construction of the national cathedral for Ghana, explaining that the building would be a focal point for national cohesion.

“It will help recognize the role of God in the affairs of the country,” he said.

The Speaker maintained that despite the divergent views expressed on the proposed construction, the building is still necessary.

At meeting with members of the Fundraising Committee of the National Cathedral Project who paid a courtesy call on him at the Parliament House, in Accra, on Monday, Rev Prof Oquaye called on Ghanaians to appreciate the project, conceptualized by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

“Let’s all appreciate what the President has conceptualized and help these ladies and gentlemen and also men and women of God to achieve this,” the Speaker said.

The meeting comes ahead of the launching of a fundraising event, announced by Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta, in the 2019 Budget Statement.

The launch is scheduled for December 28, 2018, in Accra; and in February 2019 in the United States in America.

The fund raising team was at the Speaker’s Office to officially invite Parliament to take part in the event.

Rev Prof Oquaye said having a National Cathedral is not a bad idea at all, and assured the Committee that the House would work closely with the Committee to ensure successful implementation of the project.

However, Archbishop Duncan William Chairman of the Fundraising Committee of the National Cathedral Project said it was yet to know how much the Government would provide as seed capital for the project.

The cost of the project is also yet to be known.

“I don’t know,” Archbishop Duncan Williams said, adding, “So you can ask the Minister of Finance. He hasn’t told us yet.”

He however indicated that the cost would be settled during the fund-raising.

Mr Moses Anim, MP for Trobu and Deputy Majority Chief Whip, said despite the fact that God does not stay in building which are put up b human hands it is important for the state to put up a building like the National Cathedral and own it.

Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza, MP for Adaklu, raised issues on discussions on the morality of demolishing buildings for the National Cathedral project

In the fundraising team’s delegation were the Most Rev. Dr. Justice Offei Akrofi, former Anglican Bishop of the Accra Diocese, Rev Joyce Aryee, of the Salt and Light Ministries; Dr. Paul Opoku-Mensah, Executive Director of the National Cathedral Project.

The 5,000 seater-capacity of National Cathedral of Ghana, to be located behind the Parliament House, in Accra, between Ridge and East Ridge, is a planned interdenominational Christian cathedral scheduled to be built as part of Ghana's 60th anniversary celebrations.

The design for the cathedral was unveiled, and the sod was cut by President Akufo-Addo in March 2018.