The Member of Parliament for the North Tongu constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablawkwa, has questioned what he described as the government’s “indecent haste” to complete the National Cathedral project.
Speaking to Citi News, the MP said it would have been more prudent to make the cathedral project a long-term one.
The government is currently targeting 2024 to commission the project that started in 2018.
“Who is chasing us? Has God suddenly become homeless that he is [desperately] depending on Ghana to get him a place to reside,” Mr. Ablakwa asked.
“If we spread [the project in phases] then it can be easy on the suffering masses. If you take the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, it took the Americans 82 years to construct,” he noted further.
Mr. Ablakwa also questioned the morality of the project because of the lack of accountability from the government.
“And is he [God] going to reside in a cathedral that is premised on deception, corruption, lawlessness, diversion of funds?”
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Mr. Ablakwa urged the government to seek parliamentary approval for the financing of the project.
“The Finance Minister knows what to do. If in your mind, you are putting up a government of Ghana project, or you are going to support this project with the people’s resources, allocate it in the budget… list it, cost it then get Parliamentary approval.”
Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta will later this week appear before Parliament to answer some 16 questions, including queries on the National Cathedral, tabled for him by MPs.
The $350 million project was envisioned by the government in March 2017 as a physical embodiment of national unity, harmony, and spirituality.
The inter-denominational cathedral is expected to have an auditorium capable of seating 5,000 people, as well as chapels, and a baptistery.
The President has said the controversial project is in fulfilment of a promise he made to God in the run-up to the 2016 election.
