Minister of Finance Ken Ofori Atta has revealed that the Akufo Addo administration will provide the seed money for the construction of the controversial National Cathedral.

Government had earlier insisted that it was only facilitating and providing land for the construction of the cathedral and will not channel funds to the projects.

Several civil society organizations, the Trade Union Congress and individuals have kicked against the construction of the National place of worship describing it as misplaced priority, after they suspected government was going to doll out money for the project.

Presenting the 2019 budget in Parliament on Thursday, Hon. Ken Ofori Atta clarified that the state is not using tax payers’ money to finance the project.

“Mr. Speaker, on March 6, 2017 – the 60th year of our independence – the President cut the sod for the construction of a National Christian Cathedral for the country that will provide the space for national events of a religious nature.  A National monument, the Cathedral will house impressive chapels and baptistery, 5000-seat main auditorium, expandable to 15000 people for national events and celebrations.

“It will include among others, a grand central hall, a music school, and will house Africa’s first-ever Bible Museum and documentation centre, The National Cathedral project will also bequeath to the country a gracious national park for all Ghanaians; bring new skills, technology and jobs to the country; and will act as a beacon to national, regional and international tourists.Mr Speaker, the state is facilitating this process by providing the land, the Secretariat, and seed money for the preparatory phase”.


Meanwhile, speaking in London in October 2018, President Akufo-Addo described the cathedral project as priority among priorities.
“People will ask if it (national cathedral) is a priority. It is a priority among priorities. We’ll never find enough money to do everything we want to do. But we have to begin, and that’s what we have started.”