Spokesperson of the National Chief Imam Sheikh Aremeyaw Shuaib is worried the establishment of a national cathedral as a heritage project may turn out to be fertile grounds for conflict.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on March 6, 2018 unveiled an architectural design for the construction of a national cathedral.
The design, which was inspired by the concept of unity, harmony, and spirituality, is a heritage project to commemorate the 60th independence anniversary of Ghana.
The project has been proposed to be cited on 14 acres of gardens near the Osu Cemetery in Accra, and it will be a gathering place for people of all faiths.
Some judges have already been given eviction notices to vacate their residences to make way for the construction of the structure.
There has since been heated public debate about the need or otherwise of a national cathedral as well as the proposed location for the project.
Speaking on 3FM’s Sunrise Thursday, Sheikh Aremeyaw argued that the project does not reflect the true secular nature of the country but rather favours one religious ground; a situation he fears will breed religious conflict.
“The context is that, okay, you are a secular country, the national Christian cathedral will just give certain image or monument to satisfy only one section of the citizenry. If you do so you sometimes create a foundation for certain kind of conflicts,” he told the host, Winston Amoah.
In his view, an inter-faith edifice would be a better representation of the purpose of the structure than a national cathedral.
According to him, the attainment of Ghana’s independence was a collective effort, won by people of different religious groups who must be given a stake in the celebration of independence through the heritage project.
“Our independence was obtained through certain processes, people participated, it was an aspiration, a national aspiration and we are thankful to God that He gave it to us. So in thanks to God we celebrated our 60th anniversary and out of that we thought that there must be certain heritage projects that will immortalize the desire for independence in our minds.
“I thought that that broad aspiration should have been the focus of that every citizen of this country wants of be part of that pride. We must have certain heritage projects celebrating our togetherness,” he advanced.
Source: 3news
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Every little thing, then they begin to think about conflict. What the fu*ck do you guys gain from being violent? What has conflict got to do with building of a cathedral? Will the zongo development project bring conflict? Has the annual donation of cows, rice, sugar and money to the Moslem community on Ramadan brought any conflict? ? Who complained when Moslems started building their national mosque? Did it bring any conflict? When free education was introduced in the North where Moslems dominate, did it bring conflict? Moslems marry multiple wives (up to 4) and so produce more children than per head than Christians. Let this primitive spokesman tell us if education of their many children for free will bring conflict because Christians do not have that many children? That so called Sheik should bow his head in shame. This violent tendencies must stop!
Interesting comments from this man. We are in this nation and the governments are using the tax payers money to fund pilgrims to Mecca which is purely individual religious duties. This has not caused conflict. Didnt government spend money to construct Int Airport at Tamale bcos of hajj? Which other plane has flown from another country to Tamale apart from for hajj purpose? Have you seen that government is voting money to develop Christian communities but it is doing for muslim communities, that is not causing conflict. We are in Ghana where every year MMDCEs will send food items and money to mosques during ramadan but they dont do same to christians even though Christians are more than muslims in Ghana. Excuse me Sir.
Sheik, the question is does the muslim community have a national mosque? The answer is yes. Indeed two which are built on lands provided by the govt. One at Abossey Okai and the other near kawokudi on the nima highway. Both were built by foreign donnar countries. This national catheral was an initiative of some christian churches. They put the issue of land before govt and govt acceded to that request. Funds for that edifice is NOT being borne by govt just as govt did not provide funds for the two mosques. Sheik, where lies the conflict of govt promoting one religion above the others. I wished you had made similar proposal of interfaith edifice when the two mosques were being built. Let us not create unnecessary rivalry among religions in this our dear country. Religious groups have co-existed peacefully and that has been the envy of other countries. Christians puting up a national cathederal is by no means an expression of christian superiority over other religions neither does that proclaim Ghana a christian nation. The constitution says Ghana is a circular nation embracing all religions please let it remain so.
Sheikh go ahead and incite violence because of a building. You guys think we are kids. Doesnt the government use state resources to organize and send moslems to the Hajj every year? Has anybody complained? You guys should go ahead a hurt a future Bawumia presidency by raising unnecessary eeligious tensions.
If you Sheikh disabuse your thought and behavior of conflict, there will be no conflict.Muslims should desist from attacking Christians and put in their own request. What you are doing has bad implications for future Muslim presidential candidates in general elections.
When government was establishing hajj board, zongo ministry, zono fund you saw nothing wrongl
This nana addo government is making too many mistakes. The government advisors are really doing a a great disservice to nana addo. This project could have come off easily if the government had not gotten itself directly and loudly involved in it. The government should left it in the hands of church council to drive it, whilst the government quietly and secretly give the church the necessary support. Some of these individuals in government do not exhibit common sense at all. This is a very sensitive issue and must be treated as such. Be wise npp government. When the moslems were building the huge mosque at nima did any one hear of it? And above all, right now the building of a national cathedral is not a necessity. What we need to see are good roads to curtail car accidents, lower taxes and some of the import duties, plus reduction in the cost of fuel. What is the use of building a national cathedral if the people are not at peace?