Rawlings, Mahama back National Cathedral construction – Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees for the National Cathedral says it has secured the support of two former presidents in the controversial construction of an edifice for God.
This comes at a time the project has been widely criticised by a section of the public including the largest opposition party, National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“We have gone to ex-President Rawlings who gave us his blessing. We have officially gone to ex-President John Dramani Mahama who also gave us his blessing,” the National Cathedral Board of Trustees’ Secretary, Rev Kusi Boateng, said on Joy News.
With political parties divided over the construction of the 5000-seater cathedral, he said steps are being taken to seek the approval of all political parties in the country.
“We’re trying to cut across every political divide. We believe that this should be a national project that will bring change and affect economic advancement ” he said.
While the two former presidents it produced—Rawlings (1993-2001) and Mahama (2013-2017) are reportedly backing the project, the NDC has shown little commitment to it.
The party condemned the location of the yet-to-be constructed edifice. Already, 11 residential facilities in the Ridge area, where the Cathedral will sited, have been demolished.
The government has also budgeted to spend GH₵9.2m in relocating the Ridge Passport Office to make way for the construction of the cathedral.
According to him, the amount of money to be used in relocating the Passport Office can be put to judicious use.
Rev Boateng, however, describes the comments by the legislator as unfortunate.
Asked if the issue of the site of the cathedral was mentioned by any of the two former Presidents, Rev Boateng said no concern was raised in that regard.
Cathedral benefits
Rev Boateng said the construction of the inter-denominational structure will create jobs.
According to him, critics of the project do not know the immense benefits the country will derive from the cathedral.