The founder and leader of Savior Light in Jesus Ministry, Apostle Samuel K. Mensah, has stated emphatically that there is absolutely nothing wrong if President Nana Akufo Addo, wants to use state money in building the National Cathedral.
According to Apostle Mensah, King David in the Bible taxed the people of Israel for his son, King Solomon to build the Temple of God and after he had finished building the temple, the Lord consecrated the temple as the place where they worshipped for ever so, if President Nana Akufo Addo and its Government want to do same, there is nothing wrong with it.
Apostle Samuel Mensah therefore called on Christians in the country to support the contributions to build national Cathedral. He said the Christian community should own the project. Indicated that President Akufo-Addo does not own the National Cathedral, and that he [the President] is just the vision bearer.
The Founder and Leader of Savior Light in Jesus Ministry Apostle K. Mensah, was addressing the media practitioner on the need to support the building of the National Cathedral in Accra.
According to him, the building can serve as a tourist attraction which can fetch more revenue for the state. He thus urged Ghanaians to view the project as a national one and contribute towards it.
“I support the building of the National Cathedral project. It is not just a place of worship. It is a complex that serves the state in so may ways. It can even be a tourist site that generates income for the state. It can be a win-win situation for the church and the state if that monument is put up,” he said.
But this call, according to some Ghanaians, is misplaced. They say the government should rather look at raising revenue to improve the health and education sectors as well as provide Ghanaians with good roads and other social amenities.
“I know many people are saying they don’t support, the country is in crisis, things are hard, it for political reasons. However, it is a national programme and we must support it and donating towards it is not mandatory; it is voluntary,” Apostle added.
He stressed the need for the citizenry to uphold the tenets of religion, saying they should appreciate godliness, goodness and faithfulness always to engender sustainable growth and development. He pointed out that the inclusion of the Bible Museum and the Biblical Garden will give the cathedral and enhanced outlook.
“The Bible Museum and the Biblical Garden will make the cathedral to become an educational and research resource centre, as well as another centre of attraction in the country,” adding, “It has the potential of drawing the world to Ghana.”
The construction of the National Cathedral was first announced by the President, Nana Akufo-Addo, in his presidential address on March 6, 2017 where he informed Ghanaians about his intention to build the National Cathedral which would address a critical missing link in our national architecture where the State will have the opportunity to have formal religious activities including state burials, presidential inaugural services, among others.
Some of the features of the cathedral are a 5000 auditorium but expandable to 20,000 during national events, chapels which can be rented to churches, prayer rooms, crept where leaders of society and national figures can be buried, among others.
The most touted National Cathedral project, which is to be built by the Christian community in Ghana, is expected to cost $250 Million UDS. The project, which is owned by churches in Ghana, is expected to be completed in March 2024.
Report By Bernard K DADZIE