The significance of the National Cathedral to Ghana has been emphasized by Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
He claimed that the contentious project will bring in a significant amount of money for the nation and have many advantages.
During her speech at the Ghana Tourism Investment Summit 2023, Ofori-Atta emphasized the cathedral’s function as a strong infrastructure that has the potential to greatly expand the travel and tourism industry.
Millions of Christians from throughout Africa would likely travel to the cathedral on pilgrimage, and with an average expenditure of $3,000 per visitor, the cathedral would bring in a sizable sum of money for the continent’s economy.
“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.”
Ofori-Atta called for a more positive approach, stating that the government should carefully consider the cathedral’s potential to contribute to Ghana’s economic development, despite the ongoing debates and controversies surrounding the cathedral project.
“Even as we contend with it and fight about it, let’s think of this triangle and find a reason why we should also add that as part of the infrastructure base as we build a society with a strong, resilient, and robust future,” he emphasized.
The Minister of Finance reaffirmed the government’s resolve to revolutionize the tourism and arts sectors, acknowledging their enormous potential to spur economic expansion and create job opportunities.
Relatedly, North Tongu Member of Parliament under the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has revealed that Reverend Eastwood Anaba and Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams did not take any allowance during their time as Board Members of the National Cathedral project.
His comment comes a month after the two popular clergymen resigned from the National Cathedral Board of Trustees.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Bola Ray on StarrChat, Okudzeto Ablakwa disclosed that Archbishop Duncan-Williams and Rev. Eastwood Anaba went into the National Cathedral Board of Trustees with a pure heart.
