Rev Prof. Paul Frimpong-Manso, the President of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC), has said the idea of Ghana’s National Cathedral is not dead.
According to the GPCC president, the renewed debate should not be viewed as the end of the project.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Wednesday, Rev Prof. Frimpong-Manso stated, “Someone has said that truth buried to the ground will resurrect; that is our Lord Jesus Christ.”
“So to me, the National Cathedral is like gold. When it is dug from the ground, basically it’s nothing, or like a diamond. But when it goes through refining processes, which are purification processes, it comes back and shines brighter.”
He added, “So, for me, what has happened is good. I’m glad that the conversation has not ended, and at the end of the day, all Ghanaians will see that all things work together for good to them that love God and those who have been called according to his purpose.”
Rev Prof. Paul Frimpong-Manso added that he is pleased the current administration’s position had also given the Christian community reason to remain engaged in the conversation.
“I think I’m glad that it is back. I’m glad that the current government, with its, you know, its leaders, are all supporting it, and I know through this milling and refining process, through this dialogue, pros and cons, we will get the best out of the situation.”
“I’m glad that the idea of the cathedral is not dead”, he added.
His comments follow fresh debate over the cathedral following Mahama Ayariga’s vetting.
His comment follows President John Mahama, who argued that taxpayers’ money should not be used to fund the construction of a National Cathedral, disclosing that if Christians across the country contributed GH¢1,000 each towards the project, they could raise sufficient resources to construct the facility.
Speaking at a citizens’ engagement during his tour of the Upper West Region, President Mahama stated, “I made a promise that every policy and every project that I inherit, I will continue it as long as it’s in the interest of the people, and I have largely done that. Almost all the projects and policies we inherited, we have continued.
“The only one is the National Cathedral, but that was not a national policy. It was a personal pledge by the former President. It was a personal pledge by the former President to God. So that one, it wasn’t national policy,” he added.
Mahama further added, “I am a Christian myself. I have nothing against having a national cathedral”.
“My second problem was that we shouldn’t use taxpayers’ money. I mean, how many Christians are in this country? If we all pay 1,000 cedis each, we should be able to construct a national cathedral,” he added.
“My principle has always been that the location has been a problem,” he said.
“So normally during ceremonies, you have the stadium not far, and that’s the way we used to go to Black Star Square. So if you go and put this major thing there again, it will constrict that whole area,” he said.
“My problem was also that the amount of destruction we had to cause to clear the area broke 10 judges’ residences.
“We broke the Malian Ambassador’s residence. Up to now, we’ve not replaced it. And several other properties, the old passport office, all of them were demolished to make way for a national cathedral,” he said.
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