Flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, is saying the provision of educational and infrastructural needs should be prioritised over the building of a cathedral.
He says the educational needs of the country are so crucial that God himself will not prioritise the construction of a cathedral over that.
He has advised that the provision of things needed to foster education should be made before thinking of projects like building a cathedral.
According to him, he will not waste that amount of money utilised by the President on a project like the cathedral when the education sector is going through a lot of challenges.
At a public lecture at the Wisconsin International University College Wednesday, April 03, 2024, the former President noted that the building of the cathedral is a personal promise from President Akufo-Addo and not a divine directive from God.
He was responding to his stance on the controversial project should he regain power after the December 07 elections.
The former President argued that if given the opportunity to allocate $400 million, investing in textbooks for students or upgrading vital infrastructure such as the single road from Accra to Cape Coast to a dual carriageway would likely yield greater benefits for the nation.
“For me, the National Cathedral was a covenant somebody made with God, an individual. He said he swore to God that if he became President, he would build a cathedral for Him. From my perspective, it is his promise to build a house for God.
“I am sure that if he really had asked God what he wanted him to do with $400 million; I don’t think God would have chosen a cathedral when $400 million could have provided textbooks for all our students. I don’t think God would have asked you for a cathedral when we could have used the money to dualise the road from Accra to Cape Coast. People die every day on that road because it’s a single road.
“So, God didn’t ask for it, somebody promised it to God, it was a personal promise and if I have $400 million God will be angry with me if I use it to build that cathedral. I am not going to take taxpayers’ money or borrow $400 million from any source to build this cathedral,” he said.
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