The construction of the National Cathedral is scheduled to take after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo broke grounds for its commencement on Friday.
The Cathedral will serve as a national place of interdenominational worship and for the holding of important state and religious ceremonies.
It is expected to have a 5,000-seater auditorium, a music school, art gallery and Africa’s first Bible museum, expandable to a 15,000-seater capacity for national events and celebrations.
Designed by the world renowned architect Sir David Adjaye, the National Cathedral will be sited on a 5.5-hectare landscaped garden, near the State House, Ridge, Accra, and funded by the religious community.
Redeeming pledge
Addressing the gathering, President Akufo-Addo said the construction of the Cathedral is in fulfilment of a pledge made to the Almighty God, that if He (GOD) graciously helped him win power in 2016, and became President of the Republic, he would build, to His glory, a national cathedral.
The foundation stone, which was brought down from Israel, the Holy Land, was laid at the spot of the Cathedral by the President.
The President said he is determined to lead the efforts to ensure that the project is completed on the expected time.
Explaining why it is important for Ghana to get the National Cathedral, President Akufo-Addo said since Ghana gained independence from colonial rule some 63 years ago, the country has been spared with civil war, famine and epidemics ever since.
“We are certainly no better than the other nations in our neighbourhood who have been confronted with these challenges. I believe it is by the grace of God that we have been preserved and sustained,” the President stated.
He said the construction of the cathedral will serve as thanksgiving to the Almighty God for “His blessings, grace, favour and mercies on our nation.”
“Seventy-one per cent of the Ghanaian people adhere to the Christian religion grouped under the various persuasions of the Christian Faith. The interdenominational National Cathedral will help unify the Christian community and thereby help promote national unity and social cohesion,” President Akufo-Addo stated.
Iconic edifice
Upon completion of the project, President Akufo-Addo reiterated, “the National Cathedral is certainly going to be one of the iconic structures of the African continent.”
President Akufo Addo thanked members of the board of trustees of the project, particularly the chairman, Most Rev Dr Samuel Asante Antwi, for the enormous responsibility placed on them to complete the all-important project.
He also extended his appreciation to members of the fundraising committee, led by the Archbishop Nicholas Duncan Williams, and Sir David Adjaye for their immense dedication to serve their country.
It will be recalled that, on March 6 2017, President Akufo Addo made known his vision for the construction of a national cathedral.
The President, at the ground-breaking ceremony then, described the proposed cathedral as an inter-denominational worship project, which will serve as thanksgiving to God for the blessings He has bestowed on the country.
SOURCE: Daily Statesman
