Mahama outlines his three major concerns about controversial National Cathedral project

President John Mahama says the Christian community in Ghana has the capacity to finance the construction of a National Cathedral without relying on taxpayers’ money. He argued that if Christians across the country contributed GH¢1,000 each towards the project, they could raise sufficient resources to construct the facility. Speaking at a citizens’ engagement during his tour of the Upper West Region, President Mahama said he had no objection to the construction of a National Cathedral but maintained that public funds should not be used to finance it.

“I mean, how many Christians are in this country? If we all pay 1,000 cedis each, we should be able to construct a national cathedral,” he said. He said Christian groups should therefore take the lead in mobilising the resources required to complete the project.

“My second problem was that we shouldn’t use taxpayers’ money,” he added. President Mahama also raised concerns about the location of the project, arguing that the site was already surrounded by major public institutions and facilities. Read Also: Taxpayers’ money shouldn’t fund National Cathedral; Christians can contribute towards it – Mahama He cited Parliament, the International Conference Centre, the Greater Accra Regional Hospital and the National Theatre as some of the major facilities in the area.

“My principle has always been that the location has been a problem,” he said. “So normally during ceremonies, you have the stadium not far, and that’s the way we used to go to Black Star Square. So if you go and put this major thing there again, it will constrict that whole area,” he added.

The President further criticised the demolition of properties to make way for the cathedral, including 10 judges’ residences, the residence of the Malian Ambassador and the old passport office. “My problem was also that the amount of destruction we had to cause to clear the area; broke 10 judges’ residences. “We broke the Malian Ambassador’s residence.

And several other properties, the old passport office, all of them were demolished to make way for a national cathedral,” he said. President Mahama stressed that his position should not be interpreted as opposition to the construction of a National Cathedral. I have nothing against having a national cathedral,” he said.