Government and the clergy today [Wednesday] could not take a decisive resolution on how to proceed with the controversial National Cathedral project although the issue was raised at the breakfast meeting at the Jubilee House.
According to the clergy, the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral project were yet to meet and come to a consensus on the matter, hence they could not make conclusions at the breakfast meeting.The meeting between the government and the clergy on the project became necessary following the loud public outcry over plans to evict some judges from their homes to make way for the construction of the 5,000-seater capacity cathedral.
While some have questioned the relevance of the construction of the Cathedral and the government’s involvement in the project, others are questioning the decision to use a prime area like Ridge in Accra, which is already developed.
But according to the Vice Chairman of the Association of Charismatic and Christian Churches, Victor Osei, the Board of Trustees will hold a meeting next week to agree on the way forward.
He said it is inappropriate for the board to make public statements on the matter especially at a time when public tension on the subject is high.
“Sometimes it is better to let the fire come down before you come out and make certain statements. In the midst of flames, people say a lot of things. If you go to Nigeria, there is a National Cathedral, there is a National Muslim Cathedral. In a lot of countries, these things are there, so I don’t think [in] Ghana [it] is anything strange if people decide to come together to aid government set up a national cathedral,” he said.
While discounting claims that the board has remained silent on the matter, he said it is seriously considering the arguments and will soon take a decision on it.
“The board of trustees is not silent on this issue. You should allow people to say all that they want to say, they should vent out their spleen and then at the end of the day you come out when things are calm and say this is what is going to be done. But in the midst of the discussion, it is absolutely sometimes inappropriate to come out with things… I believe that the board will come together,” he said.
The board is expected to meet on Tuesday 4th September, 2018, and will meet with President Akufo-Addo subsequently to take a final decision.
Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has highlighted the relevance of such engagements with the clergy which he said will help him inform them about the intentions of the government while listening to their respective concerns.
“I also felt that on a periodic basis, it will be good for me to meet with you [clergy] so that we can also deal with matters that are of concern to you and matters that are of concern to me as the head of government. I’m hoping that what we are doing here today is going to be a regular feature of my government, so something like a couple of times in a year we have an opportunity to meet and I will hear your considerations and you will hear the things that are on the heart and minds of government because it is important that from the different angles from which we approach the public interest, we work together,” Akufo-Addo said.
“It doesn’t mean we agree on everything, but it means we have an attitude of cooperation,” Akufo-Addo added.
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Source: UTV/citinewsroom.com
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why is NPP not reasoning for once??? i am NPP but the way and manner they go about their things these days is like they are power drunk and has made them to stagger. cant this national cathedral be built somewhere else other than ridge?? do we have intelligent people in NPP at all??? why demolish the judges bungalows which will be waste of resources and build again?? is it not sttttuuuuuupiiiiiiiiiidity at its highest? Akuffo Addo you continue to listen to those sooo called pastors who only think about their stomachs and you will see if you will even get 5 votes in ghana. WE WANT PRUDENT THINKING AND NOT SOME BOGUUUSSSS STUUUPID SELFISHH INTEREST BAD SMELLY POLICIES. WHAT DO WE LOOSE IF WE RELOCATE THE CATHEDRAL TO SOMEWHERE ELSE?? These are the things that brings rise to terrorism in the country. nonnnnnsense. does Ghana belong to only pastors??
Please do not let us allow the scrupulous Pastors and Priests and those who have bestowed upon themselves the titles: Rev., Bishops and what have you, in the so-called charismatic churches, discredit our Faith in Christianity by their false pretenses and falsehood. That is why I strongly maintain that I would never belong to a church which was not in existence when I was born. I came to meet churches like Catholic, Methodist. Presbyterian, Anglican, and SDA. Though there are other new Churches like Pentecost and Assembly of God which are doing well, the rest you can forget. The pillars of our system of Governance, Democracy are derived from the teachings of the Scriptures, the ten commandments. And therefore, it makes sense to believe in those principles if we want to coexist as humankind and work together in harmony to improve our standard of living. Then, if the National Cathedral would symbolize that belief and remind us of our moral responsibility to live in a good, civilized neighborhood in the light of what the scriptures teach us, let us build it. The disputed construction site is a matter of priority and so let us debate it disparately. I am solidly for the proposed site by the committee.
So only nine judges are standing in the way for a monument for GOD. Sacked these judges for GOD house to be built.
Ghanaians are looking for an economic remedy and not a church that satisfies a group/class. An empty stomach cannot have the courage to go to church.
Ghanaians are looking for an economic remedy and not a spiritual remedy.An empty stomach cannot have the courage to go to church.
People questioned the building of Jubilee House .Some said they would use it to rear chickens if they came to power. Today it is an iconic edifice we are all proud of. With the Cathedral the operative phrase is 'Multi-purpose',If the funding is ready Nana go ahead and build it. Are the buildings that are to be demolished the private properties of those judges? Have they complained of being thrown on the streets?There are Ghanaians whose job is to talk. So let them talk. If you listen to all these talkers nothing will ever be achieved. Today Rwanda is everybody's reference point when it comes to development on the continent.You think they achieved that by listening to every loafer?
Now we know how weak Nana and his government are. They bring out some policies and when you make small noise, they quickly run away. I laugh saaaaaa
Cathedral? Fine. Location? Not not not!!!
The Cathedral could be built on the stretch between the Independence square and the castle. This would mean taking the remains of the late President Mills to the Military Cemetery in Burma camp.
It is some disgruntled NDC supporters who are against it. They know such a project would spell doom for them. I'm an NDC die hard fan, but for this project I would support Nana Addo for good. I'm even willing to make donations to support building it. Those who support the building of churches and mosques succeed in life.