The Vice President, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has urged Ghanaians of all religious persuasions to voluntarily contribute to the construction of the National Cathedral.

Plans for the construction of a National Cathedral continues to generate lively debate, and although government insists it will be funded by the private sector and serve as a multi-purpose national edifice, some have raised concern about its usefulness and cost.

Speaking at the Adabraka Official Town branch of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana on Sunday, 22 August 2021, Dr. Bawumia underscored the importance of the Cathedral, and urged all to help build it “for Ghana and for the glory of God.”

“As you all know, there are efforts to build a National Cathedral. It is very important that we build the Cathedral. It is a voluntary exercise; anybody who wants to contribute can contribute. I have contributed, and I will contribute some more. So I encourage everybody to think about it, and let’s build it. It is not for anybody. It is for Ghana and for the glory of God,” he emphasized.

A voluntary, national contribution for the construction of the Cathedral would further cement Ghana’s standing as a religiously-diverse country living at peace with itself.

“Ghana is Africa’s second most peaceful country, with adherents of many religions living and working together to build the nation. The construction of the Cathedral would add further to our enviable record of peaceful co-existence,” he stated.

President Nana Akufo-Addo, accompanied by senior members of the Clergy, laid the foundation stone for the Cathedral on March 5, 2020 to signal the start of construction. A National Cathedral Secretariat has since been set up to raise funds from individuals and the private sector for its construction, while work continues apace.

The cathedral will house a series of impressive chapels, a baptistery, a 5000-seat two-level auditorium, a grand central hall, music school, choir rehearsal, art gallery, shop and multi-use spaces. It will also be home to Africa’s first Bible Museum and Documentation Centre, dedicated to Christianity and nation-building in Ghana.

A new ceremonial route and landscape will be linking the Cathedral site to Ghana’s prominent, celebratory landmarks – Independence Square, Osu Cemetery, the State House and Africa Unity Circle.

BACKGROUND:

The construction of the National Cathedral represents a significant moment in our country’s history.

As a deeply religious nation, the Cathedral provides a historic opportunity to put God at the centre of our nation’s affairs, and serves as a symbol of our eternal and continuing gratitude to Him for the blessings He continues to shower and bestow on our nation.

Conceptually, the National Cathedral represents a vision of a society which is, firstly, dependent on God, and whose aspirations are captured by the opening words of our National Anthem: God bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong!

The National Cathedral gives practical expression to this vision of a society mediated by the Almighty, and represents a sacred space for the nation. The Cathedral, thus, addresses a missing link in our national architecture, i.e. church for national purposes. It will be an interdenominational house of worship and prayer, and will serve as the venue for formal state occasions of a religious nature, such as the inauguration of Presidents, state funerals, national thanksgiving services, amongst others.

​The National Cathedral will be a unifying monument around which to elevate shared conversations on faith and on national transformation. It will also serve as a rallying platform to promote deep national conversations on how, collectively, we can build the progressive and prosperous Ghana we desire.