The President said the cathedral will among others, serve as a venue for national religious events.

[contextly_sidebar id=”LLtUCXCQEXWeeaDQUjy1DypTZEkVd6KP”]The Board will be chaired by the former Head of the Methodist Church, Rev. Asante Antwi., with Rev. Charles Palmer-Buckle as Vice Chair of the Committee.

Other members include Duncan Williams, Dag Heward Mills, Rev. Kusi Boateng, Rev. Martey former Presby Moderator. Joyce Aryee and Pastor Mensa Otabil.

Some Ghanaians who believe the facility is unnecessary considering the fact that Ghana is a secular state have challenged the idea.

They have argued that government appears to be interfering in religious affairs by this decision.

A member of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), James Kwabena Bomfeh, has in that regard filed a suit at the supreme court challenging the president’s decision to build the cathedral, saying that the country as a secular state must not be seen to be getting involved in religious activities such as building a Christian cathedral and facilitation Muslim’s pilgrimage to Mecca.

Despite these concerns, President Nana Addo has reaffirmed his commitment to carrying out the initiative.

According to him, the project is dear to his heart, and will benefit Ghanaians when completed.

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By: Marian Ansah & Sammy Wiafe /citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Duncan Williams, Otabil, others to oversee construction of national cathedral appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, the project is dear to his heart, and he is certain it will inure to the benefit of all Ghanaians when completed.

[contextly_sidebar id=”ALhqbrTRaXMh4do6HrHmGLp1Igvpb2Hv”]Addressing members of the Christian Council of Ghana who paid a courtesy call on him at the Flagstaff House, the President called for support from the clergy to ensure that the project takes off smoothly.

“It is a project that is very dear to my heart, and I’m hoping that together we will be able to realize it. No matter how long it takes, I think at least we have to begin, because I think it is a good idea and it inures to the ultimate benefit of all of us,” Akufo-Addo said.

He urged members of the Council who will not be directly involved in working towards the realization of the facility, to give their ultimate support to those who will be tasked to undertake the project.

“You have to pick some, you cannot pick everyone but I know that those who will be selected to work on the project have the support of the rest who are not on it to receive their endorsement and help,” he said.

The President on 6th March 2017, cut the sod for the construction of the national Christian non-denominational cathedral for the country, as part of events that marked Ghana’s 60th anniversary celebration.

He said at the sod cutting ceremony that the lack of such infrastructure in the country, prompted him to take the initiative which he said will serve a very important purpose for the Christian community in the country.

He revealed that funding for the project will be sourced from the Christian community and Churches in the country. But the idea has been challenged by some Ghanaians who say the facility is unnecessary considering that Ghana is a secular state and that the government appears to be interfering in religious affairs by this decision.

A member of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), James Kwabena Bomfeh, has in that regard filed a suit at the supreme court challenging the president’s decision to build the cathedral, saying that the country as a secular state must not be seen to be getting involved in religious activities such as building a Christian cathedral and facilitation Muslim’s pilgrimage to Mecca.

Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has urged the Christian Council of Ghana not to relent in its efforts to make suggestions towards effectively governing the country.

He said it was helpful to hear from religious leaders on pertinent national issues that are of interest.

He noted that the management of the country must not be left in the hands of politicians, but everyone must come on board to do their part.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @jnyabor

The post National cathedral dear to my heart – Akufo-Addo appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The suit, which challenges the constitutionality of state involvement in the organisation of Hajj, and more recently, the construction of a national cathedral, has been variously criticized.

[contextly_sidebar id=”QJOxemo1ygN7P0svML222eBHQsl3B2OQ”]But speaking to Citi News, James Kwabena Bomfeh said his Christian faith would not keep him from exercising his civic duties.

Mr. Bomfeh, a member of the Convention People’s Party (CPP),  said, “I am a Christian. I have nothing against the Christian faith. I wonder if you or any of those saying whatever can show they are more Christian than I am. I am a baptized Seventh Day Adventist. I believe in the Bible.”

“I am at the Supreme Court on grounds enshrined in law, and I derive my authority and power from the constitution as a citizen of Ghana… I know that what I am doing is my civic right and it has nothing contrary to what my Bible teaches me.”

Mr. Bomfeh is adamant that the government must not be engaged in religious affairs in the country, and therefore it’s assistance to Muslim pilgrims through the hajj board must also be declared unconstitutional and illegal.

In his writ, he is seeking “a declaration that the decision of the Government of Ghana to purposely endorse, assist, aid, partly sponsor, and/or support the construction of a National Cathedral near the State House of Ghana, for Christian interdenominational church services amounts to an excessive entanglement of the Republic of Ghana and religion and therefore unconstitutional”.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Suit over Cathedral: I’m not anti-Christian – Bomfeh appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to Mr Bomfeh, government must not be engaged in religious affairs within the country and therefore it’s assistance to Muslim pilgrims through the hajj board must be declared unconstitutional and illegal.

In his writ, he is seeking “a declaration that the decision of the Government of Ghana to purposely endorse, assist, aid, partly sponsor, and/or support the construction of a National Cathedral near the State House of Ghana, for Christian interdenominational church services amounts to an excessive entanglement of the Republic of Ghana and religion and therefore unconstitutional”.

He is also seeking, “a declaration that the setting up of a Hajj Board by the Government of the Republic of Ghana for the purpose of coordinating, supporting and/or aiding Ghanaian Muslims to embark on a religious pilgrimage to Mecca”, is unconstitutional.

President Akufo-Addo recently cut the sod for the construction of a national non-denominational Christian worship centre.

The activity was to mark the 60th Anniversary of the country.

According to Akufo-Addo, the lack of such infrastructure in the country prompted him to take the initiative which he said will serve a very important purpose for the Christian community in the country.

Some Ghanaians have raised concerns over the president’s decision to undertake the project which will be funded by the Christian community in the country.

They say government must not be seen to be bothering itself over religious activities and projects but concentrate on its secular mandate of political governance for which it was elected to office.

These complaints have however not deterred the government from carrying out some religion-based activities including facilitating the pilgrimage of Muslim’s in Ghana to Mecca in South Arabia.

‘What does the hajj board do?’

The National Hajj board is an organization operating under the office of the President mandated to manage Hajj affairs and related pilgrimages undertaken by Muslims of Ghana. They receive monies from pilgrims and facilitate their air travel, and stay in Mecca throughout the pilgrimage period.

‘National mosque under construction’

The government has partnered with the Turkish government to construct a national mosque at Kawukudi in Accra. The project started in 1995 with an initial amount of $10 million dollars from the Turkish Government, however due to other ancillary facilities that were added later to the design, the cost exceeded the initial projection hence additional funding had to be secured to complete it.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @jnyabor

The post Attorney General sued over national cathedral appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.