The government has indicated that it is open to the construction of a National Cathedral in Ghana, but says there must first be broad consensus among Christian leaders on where the facility should be located and how the project should be funded.
Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, disclosed this when a delegation from the Christian Council of Ghana paid a courtesy call on him.
According to Mr Ayariga, neither President John Dramani Mahama nor the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is opposed to the idea of Ghana having a National Cathedral.
He explained that the party’s concerns relate mainly to the arrangements surrounding the project, particularly its location and sources of funding.
The Minister therefore urged leaders of Ghana’s various Christian denominations to put aside their differences and develop a common position on the project before presenting it to the President.
Ayariga calls for church-wide discussions
Mr Ayariga proposed a meeting involving representatives of the Catholic Church, Protestant denominations and other Christian organisations to have what he described as a dispassionate discussion on the National Cathedral.
He said the discussions should address fundamental questions about the project, including its estimated cost, proposed location and financing arrangements.
The Minister indicated that once the Christian community reaches consensus, he would facilitate an engagement with President Mahama to determine the way forward.
“We just need to sit, all of us, around the table and build a consensus, and then the President will be able to lead us in the right direction,” he said.
Mr Ayariga said he would use the outcome of the consultations to engage the President and seek his direction on how the project should proceed.
NDC’s concerns over the project
The Minister stressed that the NDC’s position should not be interpreted as opposition to the establishment of a National Cathedral.
He said the party previously raised concerns about the proposed location of the project as well as the sources of funding being considered.
He believes these issues can be resolved if Christian leaders work together to agree on a structure that commands wider national support.
“If we secure a united front as Christians, I believe His Excellency President John Mahama will be able to lead us to wherever we want to go as a church,” Mr Ayariga said.
National Mosque cited as example
Mr Ayariga also pointed to the National Mosque as an example of how religious organisations can work together with international partners to finance major religious infrastructure projects.
He expressed confidence that a united Christian community, both in Ghana and abroad, could mobilise the resources needed to construct a National Cathedral if an acceptable framework is agreed upon.
The latest comments could pave the way for renewed discussions among Christian leaders on the future of the National Cathedral project, particularly its location, financing model and broader role as a national religious landmark.
