Ghana has spent $58-million on a national cathedral. All it has to show for it is a bloody great hole in the ground

  1. matilddaa's avatar
  2. Broga's avatar
  3. Vanity Unfair's avatar
  4. Broga's avatar
  5. matilddaa's avatar

DESPITE being burdened with crippling debt and economic woes, Ghana began constructing the multi-million dollar cathedral in 2020 to fulfill a promise made to God by President, Nana Akufo-Addo, above.

Akufo-Addo, according to Al Jazeera promised God that, if The Almighty would make him President in 2016, he would help build a cathedral “to his glory and honour.”

After two failed attempts at the presidency, Akufo-Addo prayers were answered.

Ghana got itself a god-addled new President, but seven years after, despite an investment of $58-million, the country is still waiting for the cathedral, which is to be located about 765 yards from the parliament building.

All indications now are that the thing may never be built at all.

The project stalled last June for lack of funds and months later parliament blocked a request for an additional $6.3-mllion that the government needed to continue the project.

Image via YouTube

Akufo-Addo, pictured above at the ground-breaking ceremony, said:

The interdenominational national cathedral will help unify the Christian community and thereby help promote national unity and social cohesion.

It did just the opposite.

This week Christianity Daily reported:

The building of Ghana’s national cathedral has turned out to be a source of division rather than unification, which has caused disillusionment and rage among Ghanaians.

What was intended to represent a place of worship for all people and a source of national pride has turned into a divisive project marked by mounting costs and widespread cynicism, casting doubt on the nation’s leadership and policies.

The outlet pointed out that the project’s original price tag was $100-million “but has doubled due to inflation”.

Although the country’s Finance Minister promised that the state would shoulder the lion’s share of the cost, most of the $58-million spent so far has come from taxpayers.

The site, according to Al-Jazeera, “could pass for an abandoned illegal mining site.”

Image via YouTube

No turning back

Christianity Today reports that President is resolute in completing his vanity project. Despite the discord it’s created, he said:

The National Cathedral will be a unifying monument around which to elevate shared conversations on faith and on national transformation. It will also serve as a rallying platform to promote deep national conversations on how, collectively, we can build the progressive and prosperous Ghana we desire.

Image via YouTube

One member of parliament opposed to the project is Sam George, above. Warning the President that he was in danger of “looking pretty foolish“, he cited the New Testament during debate over additional government “seed money” earlier this year.

Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?

And he quoted Luke 14:28.

For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

Ransford Gyampo, professor of political science at the University of Ghana, says the country has misplaced priorities. The government shouldn’t put a building project ahead of things like the development of a school lunch program. He makes the argument in explicitly religious terms:

God will not be happy with us. Who said God lives in cathedrals?

Please help keep The Angry Atheist going with a donation.

One-Time
Monthly
Yearly

Make a one-time donation

Make a monthly donation

Make a yearly donation

Choose an amount

¤5.00
¤15.00
¤100.00
¤5.00
¤15.00
¤100.00
¤5.00
¤15.00
¤100.00

Or enter a custom amount

¤

Your contribution is appreciated.

Your contribution is appreciated.

Your contribution is appreciated.

DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearly

You can also support my work via PayPal, Buy Me a Coffee or GofundMe.

Recent posts

Off the hook. Serial evangelical abuser Jonathan Fletcher won’t stand trial.

IN 30 years as vicar of Emmanuel Church Wimbledon, London, the Rev. Jonathan Fletcher, above, is alleged to have engaged in naked beatings, nude swimming and massages, as well as other sexual misconduct, and bullying and “spiritual abuse.” Then, in July 2024 he was charged with eight counts of indecent assault and one of grievous…

One response to “Ghana has spent $58-million on a national cathedral. All it has to show for it is a bloody great hole in the ground”

  1. Why do they need to built the cathedral? God, if requested (and if he exists) could just make it appear one morning. Christianity is brilliant at spending other people’s money.

    Like

Leave a reply to Broga Cancel reply