National Cathedral Criticisms ‘inappropriate, bad’ – NPP MP tells critics

New Patriotic Party [NPP] Member of Parliament for Assin South, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, has fired critics of government’s controversial National Cathedral project describing their arguments as misguided and infantile.

“It is extremely infantile and misguided for any individual or group to think that an improved and cohesive relations between the Government and religious leaders are deemed interference in religious matters,” he stated.

The MP, who is also a Reverend Minister of the Victory Bible Church International at East Legon in Accra, said this in an article in response to the massive outcry over the controversial National Cathedral project.

Government has received backlash over its decision to evict some nine Court of Appeal judges and other residents around the Ridge area in Accra to pave the way for the construction of the National Cathedral.

Although government says the project will be funded by private institutions, some Ghanaians say they don’t believe such assurance.

The Coalition of Muslim Organisations, Ghana (COMOG) on Wednesday chastised government over the project saying it constitutes an interference in religious matters in a secular state like Ghana.

COMOG in a statement on Wednesday says it suspects the construction of the national cathedral is a state project, adding that government is only using the clergy as a cover up.

“The coalition would like to express serious concern about the increasing involvement of the Government of Ghana in religious matters and its implication for national unity and cohesion…Just as the Government of Ghana has not been involved in the construction of a religious edifices for Muslims, Traditionalists, Hindus etc, it should not be involved in the efforts by Christians to build themselves a cathedral,” COMOG stated.

But the MP in his article said “even if resources of the state were to be committed into the building of the National Cathedral for Ghana, that would be the most vital Government spending in the history of our nation, Ghana.”

“Why are people not rather concerned about the retrieval and retention of the estimated $3billion lost by Ghana through corruption every year? That’s where the real opportunity lies for massive infrastructure and a transformed and efficient health system,” he added.

Below is the full article by Rev. John Ntim:

National Cathedral is most vital monument in Ghana’s history

“God bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong…”

For all intents and purposes, we nationally and unanimously recognize and accept that indeed, it is the blessings of God that would build a great and prosperous Ghana.

Constitutionally, Ghana is a secular nation. However, in essence, cognizant of the estimated 70% Christians and 17% Muslims together with the Traditional and other significantly religious segments of our population; and the role these indispensably key actors in our society play in shaping development and culture, make it even the more expedient for a visionary leader to foster congenial relations with religious leaders.

I revere profoundly, the boldness and vision of President Akufo-Addo in supporting the building of this all-important national monument which to my mind, should have been built some 60 years ago.

It is extremely infantile and misguided for any individual or group to think that an improved and cohesive relations between the Government and religious leaders are deemed ‘interference in religious matters’.

When the government focused attention on the development of Islam-dominated communities by committing substantial resources for the Ministry of Zongo & Inner City Development, that was not deemed ‘religious interference’ and ‘misplaced priority’. When land was acquired for and resources committed in the ongoing creation of Astro Turfs plus many other monumental development projects in Islam-dominated communities, that was not deemed ‘religious interference’ and ‘misplaced priority’. But when a proposed National Cathedral comes up, which is to be built at the cost of the Christian Community, all manner of misguided and infantile criticisms are emerging.

I must emphatically establish the point that even if resources of the States were to be committed into the building of the National Cathedral for Ghana, that would be the most vital Government spending in the history of our nation-state Ghana. Why are people not rather concerned about the retrieval and retention of the estimated $3billion lost by Ghana through corruption every year? That’s where the real opportunity lies for massive infrastructure and a transformed and efficient health system.