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Source: By; Charles Owusu Juanah Esq., Counsel for the National Cathedral of Ghana and Advocate for the Construction of the National Cathedral
The recent remarks by Rev. Stephen Adom Kyei Duah; trivializing the National Cathedral as “the biggest swimming pool” and urging President John Dramani Mahama to abandon its construction; are not only theologically unimpressive but also intellectually careless and historically uninformed. His statements represent a reckless disregard for truth, national unity, and Ghana’s moral heritage.
As counsel for the National Cathedral and a Christian deeply committed to the integrity of our nation’s faith expressions, I am compelled to set the record straight; not out of anger, but out of duty.
Duty to truth.
Duty to the Church.
Duty to the Republic.
But before responding directly to his misguided rhetoric, it is necessary to educate Ghanaians and readers at large with the full facts : the past, the present, and the future of the National Cathedral; so that falsehoods will never again be mistaken for insight.
1. THE PAST: HOW THE NATIONAL CATHEDRAL STARTED — AND HOW THE LIES BEGAN
Contrary to what critics claim, the National Cathedral was never conceived in secrecy, deception, or illegality. The facts are indisputable:
a. The Project Was Publicly Announced in 2017
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced the National Cathedral as a national pledge and thanksgiving to God for guiding Ghana’s democratic journey AT HIS FIRST INDEPENDENCE DAY ADDRESS AT THE INDEPDENCE SQUARE ON MARCH 6, 2017. The announcement was THUS public, unambiguous, and transparent from day one.
b. Parliament Was Officially Informed : Documented in the 2019 Budget
The 2019 Budget Statement, presented to Parliament ON NOVEMBER 15, 2018 and published as a public document, clearly contained the government’s commitment to the Cathedral project.
There was no deception, no concealment.
All Members of Parliament had access to the information.
c. The Supreme Court Affirmed the Legality of Government Support
When the project was challenged, the Supreme Court of Ghana ruled that government facilitation of the Cathedral is constitutional.
The Court recognized:
• Ghana is secular, not anti-religion.
• The state may support religious initiatives for national cohesion.
• No right of any citizen was violated.
Thus, the highest court of the land placed the legality of state support beyond debate.
d. The Cathedral Went Through Unprecedented Scrutiny
To date, the project has undergone:
• Investigations by CHRAJ
• Review by the Office of the Special Prosecutor
• Independent audits (Deloitte, PWC)
• National intelligence verification (NIB)
• Financial forensic analyses
• Parliamentary debates
All without evidence of wrongdoing.
e. Even the Attorney General Recently Confirmed : No Illegal Payments
In the clearest possible terms, the Attorney General of Ghana stated that there has never been any illegality regarding payments made for the National Cathedral.
So when propagandists shout “corruption,” what exactly do they know that Parliament, the Auditor-General, the Attorney General, the OSP, and the Supreme Court do not?
Their rhetoric collapses under the weight of facts.
2. THE PRESENT: WHAT THE NATIONAL CATHEDRAL ACTUALLY IS — AND WHY IT MATTERS
Ghanaians deserve to know the vision, the purpose, and the national value of the project: far beyond the noise of uninformed critics.
a. A SACRED SPACE FOR THE FORMAL, SOLEMN OCCASSIONS OF STATE, INCLUDING
• STATE FUNERALS
• PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURAL SERVICES
• NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYERS
• NATIONAL THANKSGIVING SERVICES, ETC
b. A Monument for Christian Unity and National Identity
With over 70% of Ghanaians being Christian, the Cathedral stands as:
• A national non-denominational worship centre
• A symbol of Christian unity, PRESENCE AND CONTRIBUTION
• A place for state worship services
• An anchor for Ghana’s Christian history
c. The Most Important Christian Heritage Center in Africa
The Cathedral includes:
• The Bible Museum of Africa : the first of its kind on the continent
• Biblical Gardens of Africa
• A 5,000 to 15,000 seater expandable Cathedral auditorium
• Prayer chapels and multi-faith national reflection spaces
• A music school and theological training facilities
• A Bible translation center
• A national icon comparable to global spiritual monuments
d. A Global Religious Tourism Engine
Countries that built sacred monuments have reaped enormous economic dividends:
• UAE (Sheikh Zayed Mosque)
• Algeria (THE GREAT MOSQUE OF ALGIERS, DJAMAÂ EL-DJAZAÏR)
• FRANCE (NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL)
• Italy (St. Peter’s Basilica)
Ghana stands to gain $300–$400 million annually from expected tourism, conferences, events, and pilgrimages.
The Cathedral is not merely a building.
It is an economic gift, a cultural treasure, and a spiritual legacy.
3. THE FUTURE: WHY GOVERNMENT SUPPORT IS CONSTITUTIONAL AND NECESSARY
Some critics; including Rev. Adom Kyei; insist that government must not support the cathedral.
But such claims are constitutionally weak and factually incorrect.
a. Article 17 of the 1992 Constitution : NO DISCRIMINATION
The Constitution prohibits discrimination on religious grounds.
Ghana’s state support to Islam makes this point crystal clear.
b. Government Has Always Supported Religious Institutions
Government support to Muslims includes:
• Payment of Hajj debts
• Construction of the Hajj Village
• Allocation of lands for national mosques
• Logistical support for annual Hajj operations
• Diplomatic facilitation for pilgrims
The government also assisted the construction of the National Mosque in Accra.
If the state can support the religious needs of 20% of the population (Muslims), how does it become unconstitutional to support the religious identity of over 70% of the very same population (Christians)?
To deny Christians similar support is not neutrality: it is discrimination.
c. The State’s Role Is Not Building; It Is Facilitating
The model has always been:
• Government provides land and initial seed support
• The Christian community leads the completion
This is the same framework used for schools, hospitals, shrines, and religious institutions under various faith traditions.
Thus, those opposing government facilitation fundamentally misunderstand public policy.
4. THE DANGER OF MISINFORMATION — AND HOW REV. ADOM KYEI’S ARGUMENTS COLLAPSE
Rev. Adom Kyei’s remarks were not based on:
• Constitutional understanding
• Historical knowledge
• Policy analysis
• Biblical principles
• Economic reasoning
His attack lacked substance, accuracy, theological grounding, and respect.
It was emotional sensationalism, not spiritual leadership.
Like Tobiah in Nehemiah 4:3, he mocked a sacred national project without knowledge of what it stands for.
This behavior is spiritually unwholesome and intellectually disappointing.
A true MAN OF GOD builds;
a misguided one mocks.
5. THE CHRISTIAN ARGUMENT — GOD HONORS NATIONS THAT HONOR HIM
Throughout Scripture:
• David planned a national house for God
• Solomon built it
• The Second Temple : historically known as Zerubbabel’s Temple; was rebuilt under the leadership of Zerubbabel (Ezra 3:8; Ezra 6:14–15), and the wall of Jerusalem was later rebuilt by Nehemiah (Nehemiah 2:17–18; Nehemiah 6:15).
• God condemned those who mocked or opposed His sanctuary (Haggai 1:4–9)
No generation that despised God’s dwelling ever prospered.
But every nation that honored Him attracted favor.
Ghana must not follow the path of mockers.
The Cathedral is an altar of national gratitude; not a political ornament.
6. A WORD TO PRESIDENT MAHAMA — REJECT NOISE, EMBRACE VISION
Your Excellency,
The Christian community urges you to rise above populist distraction.
Nehemiah faced similar mockery.
His response remains timeless:
“I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down.”
Nehemiah 6:3
History rewards builders, not hecklers.
We encourage you to facilitate the completion of the National Cathedral; a monument that will outlive every president and every critic.
7. A CALL TO ALL CHRISTIANS AND PATRIOTIC GHANAIANS
This is the time to unite.
The time to build.
The time to silence ignorance with truth.
Let us complete this sacred national project to the glory of God.
“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.”
Psalm 127:1
And when the Lord is building,
no mocker can stop the work,
no critic can halt the vision,
and no false prophet can destroy the foundation.
8. CONCLUSION: THE NATIONAL CATHEDRAL WILL BE BUILT — WITH OR WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF MEN
Rev. Adom Kyei’s comments cannot derail God’s agenda for Ghana.
The Christian community will not be intimidated by shallow rhetoric disguised as prophecy.
Like David,
like Solomon,
like Nehemiah…
We shall build.
We shall dedicate.
We shall glorify the name of the Lord.
Let the mockers speak.
Let the misinformed rage.
Let the cynics scoff.
But as for us;
we will rise and build the National Cathedral to the glory of God and the honor of our nation.
