General Overseer of the Action Chapel International Ministry Archbishop Nicholas Duncan Williams has iterated his support for the construction of the National Cathedral.
Responding to the controversy surrounding the funding of the edifice, the Archbishop noted that the building is being funded by donors from around the world thus the taxpayer will not be burdened in any way regarding the project.
The Christian leader argued that whereas certain buildings put up by the nation like stadiums are for fun, the Cathedral will serve the purpose of allowing believers of the Christian faith to gather and fellowship with God and, therefore, the idea should be embraced.
President Akufo-Addo on March 6, 2017, announced the government’s vision of building interdenominational Christian Cathedral as part of Ghana’s 60th-anniversary celebrations.
This announcement received mixed reactions from Ghanaians. While some were of the opinion that the there are more pressing needs that require funding and attention of the State to be implemented, others believed the construction will serve as a physical embodiment of unity, harmony, and spirituality for Christians and the entire citizenry in general.
He explained in an interview on Joy FM that, “I’m a believer and I love everything about God and the church and Jesus said I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail and the fact of the matter is we build stadium and we build so many things for fun and I don’t see anything wrong with building a National Cathedral for the gatherings of God’s people, to come and gather and pray and meditate and receive from God. And especially too when it’s not tax payer’s money, you know we’re soliciting money from different parts of the world anyway and so if money is coming from elsewhere to do something like that to glorify God and to edify Christians and the people of this country, I don’t see why that should be an issue. Others may be involved for different reasons but my reason is very clear and it is what I have said”
Plans are far advanced for the erection of the auditorium as state buildings which previously housed some judges have been demolished to pave the way for construction work to begin at Ridge, in Accra.
All buildings within the Ridge enclave from the Ridge roundabout to the Scholarship Secretariat, the Judicial Training Institute and the Passport Office will be pulled down.
The 5,000 seater auditorium, which will be built to be a house of prayer for all Christians and host state functions usually held at the independence square and the Accra International Conference Center, will be constructed at an estimated cost of $100,000,000 according to Government.
The National Cathedral is expected to have gardens and concave structures housing a chapel, an art gallery, a baptistry, choir rehearsal space as well as Africa’s first bible museum and documentary center.
British-Ghanaian David Adjaye will spearhead the construction of the 14.5 acres Cathedral estimated to be completed within a four-year period.
