Religion Lecturer Calls on Gov’t to Abort National Cathedral Project

A lecturer of religion at the University of Ghana Dr. Ben-Willie Kwaku Golo has urged government to wash its hands off religion in the wake of the controversy surrounding the propriety of the yet-to be constructed National Cathedral.

In his view, tension over the decision to construct the facility will degenerate in the coming days.

The National Cathedral of Ghana is a planned interdenominational Christian cathedral scheduled to be built in Accra, the nation’s capital, as part of Ghana‘s 60th anniversary celebrations. The design for the cathedral was unveiled by the President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, in March 2018. The cathedral will have an auditorium capable of seating 5,000 as well as the requisite chapels, and a baptistery. The site will also house a music school, an art gallery, and a museum dedicated to the Bible.

Despite insistence by government that the facility will not be funded by the taxpayer, many Ghanaians, including Christians have described the move as misplaced priority.

Speaking on Morning Starr Thursday, Dr. Ben-Willie Kwaku Golo said it will be difficult for the government to fight back claims that it is being religiously discriminative if it goes ahead with the construction of the cathedral.

“Government must take its hand off Religion. There are many who believe government is discriminating with this whole National Cathedral project. The use of more terrible language will pop up if government does not abort this idea of a National Cathedral. The National Cathedral may be necessary but not a need,” he stated.

Also commenting on the development, leader of the Concerned Clergy Association Bishop Benny Woode said the nation does not need a national cathedral.

“Every reason given for the National Cathedral does not wash. We don’t need it now and at this time. There are other pressing needs we have to pay attention to”.

Some Muslim leaders in the country have also spoken against the idea.