University of Ghana senior lecturer, Prof Kobby Menah, criticizes Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta’s suggestion that the National Cathedral of Ghana could be the ‘new Jerusalem.’
Prof Menah notes that the Akufo-Addo government initially pledged to transform Ghana into a Singapore-like success within its first two years, yet after seven years, the country has not achieved that goal.
He emphasizes that now the finance minister is proposing the idea of a new Jerusalem in Ghana.
“Ghana into Singapore in 18 months didn’t work. Now Ghana will become the ‘new Jerusalem’ … eiii!!! Ghana abre,” the academic wrote in a post he shared on X on Tuesday, December 5, 2023.
What Ofori-Atta said:
Ken Ofori-Atta advocates for a reevaluation of discussions surrounding the National Cathedral, emphasizing its potential to drive economic progress.
During the 2023 Ghana Tourism Investment Summit, he underscores the cathedral’s significance as a robust infrastructure that could significantly boost the country’s tourism sector.
Ofori-Atta envisions the cathedral becoming a pilgrimage site for millions of African Christians, anticipating the possibility of visitors spending an average of $3,000 each.
This, he believes, could result in substantial economic benefits for Ghana.
The finance minister said, “As we look at something like the Cathedral that has economic benefits beyond what we see…In Africa, we have some 600 million people who are Christians so imagine Ghana as the new Jerusalem and these 600 million people floating through with $3,000 to spend, it is a very different reality.”
In the midst of ongoing debates and controversies surrounding the cathedral project, Ofori-Atta called for a more constructive approach.
He suggested a careful assessment of the cathedral’s capacity to actively contribute to Ghana’s economic advancement, urging the government to consider its potential impact thoughtfully.
The finance minister reiterated the government’s commitment to revitalizing the tourism and arts sector, recognizing its substantial economic potential for fostering growth and generating employment opportunities.
View the post below: