{"id":1245320,"date":"2022-11-06T18:30:22","date_gmt":"2022-11-06T18:30:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/11\/06\/public-funding-of-national-cathedral-must-stop-john-mahama\/"},"modified":"2022-11-06T18:30:22","modified_gmt":"2022-11-06T18:30:22","slug":"public-funding-of-national-cathedral-must-stop-john-mahama","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/11\/06\/public-funding-of-national-cathedral-must-stop-john-mahama\/","title":{"rendered":"Public funding of National Cathedral must stop – John Mahama"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nPublic funding of National Cathedral must stop – John Mahama <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Former President John Dramani Mahama has called for a halt to the public funding of the National Cathedral.<\/h2>\n

According to him, the construction of the Cathedral cannot constitute a top priority for the government at this time which warranted further injection of scarce public funds.<\/p>\n

He also called for a value-for-money audit of the project as he believed it would “open the way for believers who wish to contribute to its construction”.<\/p>\n

“The public funding of the national cathedral, particularly at this time, must stop. Being a Christian myself, and deeply appreciative of the centrality of God in nation building, I agree with most Ghanaians who believe that the project cannot constitute a top priority of government at this moment, warranting further injection of scarce public funds,” he posted on Facebook.<\/p>\n

“Because of the non-transparency of the processes and procurements associated with the project, I believe that the cathedral project should be subjected to a value for money audit in other to open the way for believers who wish to contribute to its construction to do so”.<\/p>\n

Crisis<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mr Mahama’s comments come a week after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said Ghana\u2019s economy was in crisis.<\/p>\n

The country is currently negotiating a $3 billion (\u00a32.6bn) bailout with the International Monetary Fund which it hopes will grant it access to the international capital markets.<\/p>\n

Additionally, consumer inflation topped 37 percent in September, a 21-year peak despite aggressive policy tightening amid surging fuel and food prices.<\/p>\n

“By all means the National Cathedral will be built” – President Akufo-Addo<\/strong><\/p>\n

In September, President Akufo-Addo reiterated his commitment to building the National Cathedral.<\/p>\n

He said the national cathedral project was something dear to his government, stressing that it will be built by all means to the glory and honour of God.<\/p>\n

Fundraising<\/strong><\/p>\n

The fundraising efforts by the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral have accrued GH\u00a231.75 million since 2018 for its construction.<\/p>\n

Out of the amount, GH\u00a22.21 million was contributed by various church denominations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n