During his appearance before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Tuesday, March 5, Minister-designate for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Andrew Egyapa Mercer, emphasized the importance of completing the National Cathedral project, stating that it holds significant value for the nation.
Mr Mercer highlighted the substantial state investment already committed to the project and stressed the need to see it through to completion.
“While we may not have unlimited resources, substantial funding has been allocated to the project, and I believe it is imperative for its completion,” he said.
He rejected claims that the project was merely the “world’s most expensive hole,” arguing that such criticisms failed to acknowledge its broader national significance.
“It stands as a national asset in its current state and must be finalized, in my opinion,” he added.
Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has refused reports indicating that construction work on the National Cathedral project has resumed.
For months, work on the project stalled due to lack of funds. But a video recently shared on GHOneTV showed renewed construction progress, with the foundation of the cathedral now covered.
But in a social media post on January 31, Mr Ablakwa noted that “recent claims by government propagandists that work has resumed on Akufo-Addo’s scandalous US$450million cathedral are absolutely false.”
He indicated that latest drone footage captured a few minutes ago by SOA Oversight confirms that the “world’s most expensive pit remains abandoned.”
The drone footage was captured on Wednesday, January 31, 2024.
Conceived in 2017 and officially unveiled by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in 2018, the National Cathedral is an ambitious project with a 5,000-seat capacity.
The cathedral is designed to feature chapels, a baptistery, a music school, an art gallery, and a Bible museum. The initiative aims to create a lasting legacy for Ghana as it marks its 60th anniversary.
The construction of the National Cathedral is receiving financial support from the state, with collaboration from the Christian community. As of November 2022, the Finance Ministry disclosed that an amount of GH¢339,003,064.86 has been released for the project.
Additionally, GH¢113,040,654.86 has been paid to the consulting firm, Messers Sir David Adjaye and Associates, responsible for the cathedral’s construction. This information was provided to the parliamentary Adhoc Committee in response to a request for the total government expenditure on the National Cathedral.