Former Chamber of Mines Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Joyce Rosalina Aryee, has defended Government of Ghana’s initiative to solicit funds from the public for construction of the National Cathedral.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, as part of his campaign promises in the run-up to the 2016 December 7 elections, said he would build a National Cathedral for the country.
To ensure the promise is fulfilled, the government requested that Ghanaians contribute Hundred Ghana Cedis (Gh¢100) monthly for 12 months (1 year) on their own volition to fund the project.
The request did not sit well with a section of the public who, among other reasons, argued that the project was a campaign promise Nana Akufo-Addo made as a New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential Candidate, and in effect, must fund it all by himself.
Dr. Aryee, a member of the Board of Trustees for the project, responding to the dissensions on Angel FM’s Anopa Bofoɔ morning show, said though it was Nana Akufo-Addo’s promise, funding of the project is not limited to him alone.
Alluding to 1 Chronicles 29:1-9, she said President Akufo-Addo is only replicating David’s posture, in that the king after promising God a temple and having provided resources for its construction, made room for his subjects to contribute their quota.
She added: “Indeed the President said it but it didn’t mean he should use his own resources solely. But how do we get blessed? When you do for the Lord you are blessed abundantly. He [Nana Addo] wanting the public to be blessed as well, said it is a project by both the government and Christians.
“The state has provided the land and paid the architect. It is only fair that we the public also contribute our quota to help. If God will bless us, considering the millions of Ghanaians, if everyone should pay Gh¢100 monthly, a year’s time, we would raise the required funds.”
She however stressed that it is not mandatory to contribute towards the project, and if anybody would like to contribute, any amount is acceptable.
