The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, says President John Dramani Mahama and the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) are not opposed to Ghana having a National Cathedral, but believe there must be broad agreement on where it should be built and how it should be funded.
According to him, the concerns previously raised by the NDC over the controversial project were not about the idea of establishing a National Cathedral itself, but rather the arrangements surrounding its location and financing.
Mr Ayariga made the remarks when the Christian Council of Ghana paid a courtesy call on him.
He called on Christian leaders and denominations to first build consensus on the project before engaging President Mahama for direction on how to proceed.
The Minister proposed bringing together leaders of the Catholic Church, Protestant denominations and other Christian organisations for what he described as a dispassionate discussion on the National Cathedral.
He said such discussions should focus on key issues, including the cost of the project, its proposed location and the sources of funding.
“Based on what I pick from the conversations, then I will organise for us to engage with His Excellency, the President, for some direction as to how to proceed,” Mr Ayariga said.
“I know for a fact that the President does not think there is anything wrong with the country having a national cathedral.”
He explained that the NDC’s concerns had centred on the project’s location and funding sources.
“Again, I know that the NDC as a party had issues with the location. We had issues with funding sources. We just need to sit, all of us, around the table and build a consensus, and then the President will be able to lead us in the right direction,” he added.
Mr Ayariga expressed confidence that if Christians in Ghana and abroad presented a united front, they could mobilise the resources needed to construct the Cathedral.
“If we secure a united front as Christians, I believe His Excellency President John Mahama will be able to lead us to wherever we want to go as a church,” he said.
He cited the National Mosque as an example of how unity among religious leaders, together with international partnerships, could help finance major national religious projects.
The Minister therefore urged Christian leaders to set aside their differences and agree on a common position on the National Cathedral, stressing that a united proposal would make it easier to engage the President and chart a clear way forward.
