His Excellency, President Nana Addo Dankwa-Akufo-Addo on February 8, 2019, at the Museum of the Bible in Washington DC, called for support to construct the National Cathedral of Ghana.
Prior to this launch of fundraising of the National Cathedral of Ghana, on December 28, 2018, the President in a similar event made a personal donation of GHC100,000, a demonstration of his commitment towards the building of the Cathedral.
The National Cathedral of Ghana when constructed will have a seating capacity of 5,000 auditorium with its chapels and baptistery. There will be a house of music, museum of the Bible and an art gallery. According to Mr. David Adjaye, the Architect of the Cathedral, the design will be a genuine reflection of the art and culture of the good people of Ghana. He describes the high pitched and staggered roof as similar to the Akan’s architecture and the frontage will be concave and decorated with timber with semblance of Ashanti royal stools.
The launch was welcomed by The Most Reverend Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast, Ghana, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral of Ghana. On behalf of the Trustees and the appointed members, the Archbishop expressed gratitude to the President for his faith in their experience and expertise. He concluded his welcoming remarks charmingly in various Ghanaian dialects.
Mr. Steven Green, the Founder and Chairman of the Museum of the Bible gave a rendition of how his rich experience and knowledge were solicited during the initial planning of the building of the Cathedral and couldn’t be more grateful. He stressed on the importance of such an edifice and the need for a rallying support of the President’s vision.
Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States of America, His Excellency, Dr Baffour Adjei-Bawuah, described the President as an honorable man, a man who has an intensity of intent for his vision in his introductory address. The Ambassador assured the enthusiastic guests about the President’s dream and said, “The dream he is handling is not personal but national.” He further reminded that “the Cathedral will not be anybody’s parish or church but the nation’s church, a place to go to make a submission on behalf of oneself and the nation, its everybody’s home.” Ambassador Dr. Adjei-Bawuah again said the yet to be constructed National Cathedral of Ghana ought to stand as a monument of God’s graciousness to Ghana.
The President begun his remarks at the launch with a deep appreciation to the Board of Trustees, Steven Green and the high number of people who graced the occasion as a sign of immense support for the construction of the Cathedral.
He shared the three pillars on which he believes are good reasons enough to humbly and passionately push for the nation to have a National Cathedral.
He argued that the mere fact that Ghana has been spared civil wars and famine, which is prevalent all over Africa, it is proper to thank God by building him a House of Worship.
Secondly, the fact that 71 percent of the people of Ghana are Christians, though diverse in their persuasions, the President was positive, the National Cathedral will serve as a unifier. The Supreme Court’s ruling on January 28, 2019 supported this assertion, the President added.
The president stated that he made a pledge to God, that, if he was elected President after two unsuccessful attempts, he will build a Cathedral to the glory of God. This President said is the third reason for his passionate appeal to raise resources for the Cathedral.
He was clear that, the National Cathedral of Ghana will not be a monument to beautify the city of Accra but a place of convergence for the Christian community to worship, pray and promote deep national discourse on the role of the faithful in nation building.
The President was positive that just as Nehemiah motivated the people of Israel to build the wall of Jerusalem, God will touch the hearts of people both home and abroad to build the National Cathedral of Ghana to his glory.
The Chairman of the fundraising committee and a member of the Board of Trustees, Archbishop Duncan Williams appealed for great support and funds for the construction of the Cathedral. He drew the attention of all gathered to Genesis 22 of the Bible and convinced them to give to this project to receive the blessings of Abraham from God.
The event was attended by The Speaker of Parliament of Ghana Rt. Honorable Professor Aaron Mike Ocquaye, Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States of America, Ambassador Dr. Adjei-Bawuah, Her Excellency Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, Permanent Representative of Ghana to the United Nations, Right Rev. Offei Akrofi, Prophet Kusi Boateng, Kofi Dzamesi, Minister of Chieftancy and Religious Affairs, Professor Emeritus Samuel Amoako, Consular General New York and other government appointees and dignitaries.
Source:
Frederick Ameyaw, Head of Information.
Ghana’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations.