The National Cathedral Board has turned to the African diaspora to attempt to raise funds after the minority in Parliament blocked a Ghc 80m appropriation in the 2023 budget.
The Board is organising a three-day bible-reading event to seek God’s face, as well as support from Ghanaians and Africans in the diaspora toward the construction of the edifice.
“Ultimately, it will also be a way of reaching out to the diaspora to support the National Cathedral project”, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Apostle Professor Opoku Onyinah said.
He added: “It is our prayer that through the Bible-reading and worship service, we will all come to the understanding of the essence of the National Cathedral project and support it fully.”
He said the programme is conceived of as an initiative for the African diaspora to experience authentic Ghanaian Christian worship and is based on one of the distinctive aspects of Ghanaian and African Christianity, the vibrancy of its worship.
“It will involve reading of the Bible by some of the African diaspora, which is one of the main activities that goes on in temples, cathedrals, and basilicas.
“The exercise begins one of the main activities of the National Cathedral and we will collaborate with the Ghana Tourism Authority and Beyond the Return Secretariat to ensure the active and adequate participation of the African diaspora,” he added.
The need for additional fundraising efforts for the construction of the National Cathedral has become urgent after the minority blocked government from including an Ghc 80m allocation to the Cathedral in the 2023 budget.
Following a battle, the money was reappropriated to the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation.
Meanwhile, Rev Joyce Aryee, a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral, has said that the National Cathedral project will continue despite Parliament’s rejection of GH¢80 million budgetary allocation to it.
According to her, the said amount rejected by Parliament was only part of the seed money the government promised for the construction of the cathedral “not the entire money that is needed to construct and complete the edifice.”
Speaking on the Midday News on Joy FM, Dr Aryee said “…It does not mean the project can not go on because I know you are going to bring your money and I will bring mine and everybody that we will approach and is willing will bring theirs.”
She said on Thursday that “really, those who are willing are the people making the money available for the construction. I think we should all keep calm and not be disturbed.”
Source: theGhanaianVoice.Com