The Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has called on the clergy to collaborate with the government to find a way forward in completing the controversial National Cathedral project.
Speaking at a meeting with the clergy in the Greater Accra Region, Dr Bawumia emphasised the importance of the project for Ghana.
He stressed the need for the church to unite and engage with the government to explore ways to secure private resources to complete the project.
"The church has to come together and meet the government so that we talk about the way forward. The church must come together and let the government know the best way forward on how we can get private resources to help us complete the National Cathedral," he said on Monday.
Dr Bawumia expressed optimism that a collective effort can find a solution, saying "if we all come together, we will figure it out."
"I think if we all come together we will figure it out because we cannot leave it where it is,” he added.
Background
The building of the Cathedral is in fulfillment of a pledge President Akufo-Addo claimed to have made to God before winning the 2016 elections.
The 5,000-seater auditorium Cathedral project will also bequeath to the country a gracious national park for all Ghanaians, bring new skills, technology and jobs to the country and act as a beacon to national, regional and international tourists.
In 2021, the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta announced that the government will commission the ongoing National Cathedral project on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, but that did not happen as work on the project has stalled with millions of dollars already spent on it.
Aside from the lack of funds to continue the project, the project's construction has been embroiled in a lot of controversy with the National Cathedral Secretariat accused of misapplying the funds.
A member of the board of the project, Rev. Kusi Boateng has been dragged to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to be investigated over an alleged conflict of interest, including possession of multiple identities and other alleged criminal dealings.
The petitioner, MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, alleged among other things that there was a transfer of GH¢2.6 million from the National Cathedral Secretariat to JNS Talent Centre Limited owned by Rev. Kusi Boateng under a secondary identity - Kwabena Adu Gyamfi.
Mr Ablakwa said the petition was seeking to invoke the mandate of CHRAJ under Article 218 of the 1992 Constitution to investigate the “odious conflict of interest” with regard to Rev. Boateng’s position on the National Cathedral board as he “literally paid his own company a staggering GH¢2.6 million for no work done”.
Latest Stories
-
Message from the Morning Man: No Choice
6 mins -
Jospong Group and ISSER forge partnership to strengthen social and economic research in Ghana
7 mins -
Food service establishments to apply for advertisement approval from FDA
7 mins -
Tracey Grey releases new song ‘Dangerous’
12 mins -
McDan Group CEO unveils vision for African Logistics Transformation at CILT conference
17 mins -
CAF Awards 2024: No Kudus and Victor Boniface as full list of nominees revealed
25 mins -
AfESC partners with UESD for environmental research collaboration
31 mins -
James Gardener and I are good friends – Benedicta Gafah denies dating rumours
41 mins -
UN@79: Ghana calls for peaceful settlement to ongoing conflicts around the world
45 mins -
Volta Regional Health Director calls for enhanced sub-district healthcare at GPAA’s 21st Annual Conference
50 mins -
Deputy Tano North Chief Imam urges stakeholders to cooperate with EC for successful Election 2024
55 mins -
Independent presidential candidate proposes new economic development model for Ghana
57 mins -
Greater Accra House of Chiefs elects Nungua Mantse as new President
1 hour -
Bank of Ghana hosts high-level Fintech networking event in Washington DC
1 hour -
Cholera outbreak claims two lives in Ada
1 hour