Government has justified the decision to evict some nine judges from their current official residence to make way for the construction of a National Cathedral scheduled to be built in Accra.
John Peter Amewu who was Lands and Natural Resources Minister told Joy FM Monday that the government had no issues with the proposed site for the edifice per the proposal by the Rev. Asante Antwi-led committee.
“We want to build [the national cathedral] in a strategic place, something that befits this country…and that is why we’re looking for a very prime area that will fit the status of the kind of building that the committee envisaged, otherwise we can put it anywhere,” Amewu argued.
Critics have questioned the rationale behind pulling down all buildings from the Ridge Circle to the Scholarship Secretariat, the Judicial Training Institute at East Ridge and the Passport Office for the take-off of the multipurpose Cathedral.
Other structures as well as some 10 six-bedroom bungalows built by the Judicial Service to house Court of Appeal Judges, will also be demolished before the take-off of the project which is scheduled as part of Ghana's 60th-anniversary celebrations.
These buildings are located in prime areas in Accra and in the case of the judges' residence, some of them were built only five years ago. But Mr. Amewu says an arrangement has been made to resettle them temporarily.
About 21 plush residential villas as well as a training facility for the Judicial Service, are to be built to replace the structures to be knocked down, the former Lands Minister stated.
John Peter Amewu
Mr. Amewu, who now heads the Energy Ministry, added that some $168,000 is to be spent on temporary accommodation for the judges for the next 18 months while permanent structures are constructed for them.
According to him, the Judges, whose official residences have been affected and who have been served eviction notices, have no issues with the decision.
“We have never had a complaint from any of those judges that are going to be affected…” he told Joy FM.
Source: myjoyonline.com
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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.
I think many of Ghanaian opposing the building of this Cathedral should travel and see the need of national cathedral in a city a capital city. Plz open your eyes and don't let politics blind your thinking cup.
what is the good thing that this country will benefit from this cathedral? We have millions of churches and prayer camps across this country yet we keep going backward. I am a Christian but I dont see the need for this. i hope it is not meant to be used to kill ple for a mass sacrifice someday. even the Europeans who brought the good news to us will be laughing at us. I strongly believe religion is the main reason why we are not progressing as a nation and our leaders want to ensure that it remains so. the truth is they know it but bcos they have sold out their conscience for power, they have know choice than to do the needless always. why do we need a Cathedral? absolute n0ns3ns3 if u ask me.
this is a good project and it will help our nation
I GET SICK WHEN I HEAR SUCH DECISIONS AND HEAR PEOPLE DEFENDING IT. WHY IS THE NPP ALWAY HAVE THE FANTACY FOR BUILDINGS AND CARS EACH TIME THEY ARE IN GOVERMENT. THE LAST TIME THEY SOLD A LOT OF GOVERMENT LANDS TO THEMSELFS AND FRIENDS AND IT COST THEM THE ELECTIONS NOW LOOK AT THIS ONE TOO. DO WE NEED THIS AT THIS TIME. CHURCHES ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE WHY DEMOLISH BUILDINGS AND PUT UP A CHURCH IN SUCH AN AREA MEANWHILE RIDGE CHURCH IS JUST CLOSE BY. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THOSE IN AUTHORITY? WHAT IS THIS? IS RAWLINGS IN TOWN AT ALL? WHERE ARE THE CHIEFS AND THOSE WHO MATTER. WE NO MORE HAVE A VOICE THAT SPEAKS FORCEFULLY IN THIS MATTERS SINCE EVERYONE IN SYMPATETIC TO THIS GOVERMENT. THIS IS TOO BAD. I KNOW THE NATIONAL SECURITY OFFICE AND SOME DIPLOMATS STAY IN THOSE AREAS. THIS IS BAD.
I dont understand why the Cathedral must be built in the middle of the already congestted city of Accra. Why msut we spent money to dimolish buildings just to build another. Eii Ghana common sense is becoming very scares and expensive, Accra has big empty lands please find it.
My friend advise your government to look for land elsewhere for this project!! Weird weird NPP decisions all. over!! Why?
There is way that seems right unto man but the end thereof.