By: Belinda Nketia
In an exclusive interview with Kafui Dey, Frederick Worsemao Armah Blay, a former National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), shared his thoughts on the controversial National Cathedral project. Blay, who also served as a member of Parliament for the Ellembelle Constituency in the Western Region, defended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s decision to build the cathedral and emphasized that “it was for a good cause”
According to Blay, the public outcry over the project’s cost, estimated at $56 million, is unwarranted. He argued that this amount is relatively insignificant compared to the government’s overall expenditure. Blay emphasized that the project serves a good cause and is not a novel concept, citing examples of a national cathedral and mosque in Nigeria and Morocco respectively, which were also built using state funds.
Blay further stated that it is unfair to criticize the government for prioritizing the cathedral project, implying that it has compromised the country’s economic management. He maintained that if the President has made a vow to God to build the cathedral, using state funds to fulfill this promise is not a significant issue.
The National Cathedral project has been a subject of controversy in Ghana, with many questioning the government’s decision to allocate state funds for its construction. Proponents of the project argue that it will serve as a national symbol of unity and spirituality, while opponents claim that the funds could be better utilized for pressing developmental needs.
