Board of Trustees for National Cathedral to raise $250m for project

The Board of Trustees for the National Cathedral project has unveiled a strategy to raise $250 million for the construction of the cathedral.

The project, which has already started with some preliminary works at the site at Ridge in Accra, is expected to be completed in March 2024.

Unveiling the strategy at the new auditorium of the Royal House Chapel International, the Oil Dome, in Accra yesterday, the Chairman of the board, Apostle Professor Kwadwo Opoku Onyinah, said the government had provided the land and seed money of 10 per cent of the estimated cost.

The event was attended by heads and overseers of churches from various denominations and a section of the public.

Strategy

Apostle Prof. Onyinah said the strategy included the mobilisation of one million Christians from among the various denominations to donate at least GH₵100 a month for three years, starting from September this year.

He said the trustees had pencilled 50 key denominations to mobilise the funds.

According to him, the decision was based on the fact that Christians constituted 71.2% of the entire population, which translated into about 21.36 million Ghanaians.

He, therefore, called on all willing Christians to use the mobile money and bank platforms which had been made available to contribute, saying no amount was too little.

“They can contribute through the MoMo platform *979#, the ADB Bank, the Fidelity Bank and the GCB Bank nationwide,” he added.

Apostle Prof. Onyinah further urged Christians to set aside an annual weekly prayer and fasting programme to be known as “National Cathedral Week” to pray and raise funds for the project.

He said Ghanaians in the Diaspora could also contribute towards the project.

He also entreated churches to unveil the fundraising strategy in their local assemblies to demonstrate their commitment.

“Ownership brings responsibility; therefore, its implication is that a strategy that will be led by the church should be developed to help raise the funds,” he added.

He said as it was in the days of Nehemiah in the Bible, the Holy Book said he received monetary support from all stakeholders to be able to rebuild the broken down walls of Jerusalem, and quoted Nehemiah Chapter 7:70-72 to buttress his point.

Collective responsibility

The Founder and General Overseer of the Royal House Chapel International, Apostle General Sam Korankye Ankrah, said achieving the national cathedral dream was a shared responsibility.

“The National Cathedral project is not owned by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. When you study the Bible, God teaches us the model of building a temple and that indicates that God places the vision in the heart of a king, which in our case is the President,” he said.

Citing the example of King David, who built the temple in Jerusalem, the Apostle General said after receiving the vision, David shared it with his son, Solomon, which, in our present circumstances, could be likened to the board of trustees, who connected with voluntary helpers and supporters to ultimately ensure that the project came into fruition.

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