President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has described those criticising the construction of the National Cathedral as the biblical Sanballat and Tobiah.
He says their continuous doubt over the erection of the edifice will not discourage him just as the Jews did not back down on the construction of the Wall of Jerusalem.
According to the President, Sanballat and Tobiah together with other persons “insulted and discouraged” the Jews over the building of the Wall of Jerusalem just as the National Cathedral is suffering but will not be discouraged by that.
The President made this known on Sunday, December 18, 2022, when he delivered an address at the Centenary Celebration of the Ga Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, held at the Black Star Square in Accra.
During his speech, President Akufo-Addo said the National Cathedral will signify an appreciation to God whom he believes has spared the country from conflicts and plagues over the years.
Even though the GH₵80m earmarked for the project in the 2023 budget has been shot down by the Minority, the President is hopeful of the project’s completion to the glory of the Lord for his goodness towards the country.
READ ALSO: Minority wins vote to turn down GH₵80m budgetary allocation for National Cathedral
“When Sanballat heard that we were building the wall of Jerusalem, he was very angry and upset. He started making fun of the Jews. Sanballat talked with his friends and the army at Samaria and said, “What are these weak Jews doing? Do they think we will leave them alone? Do they think they will offer sacrifices?
“Tobiah the Ammonite was with Sanballat. Tobiah said, ‘What do these Jews think they are building? If even a small fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!’” he read.
President Akufo-Addo continued that, “Nehemiah prayed and said, “Our God, listen to our prayer. These men hate us. Sanballat and Tobiah are insulting us. Make bad things happen to them. Make them ashamed, like people taken away as prisoners. Don’t take away their guilt or forgive the sins they have done in your sight. They have insulted and discouraged the builders.”
The President continued that, despite the pullbacks, the Jews were not discouraged by the naysayers but persisted to realise their dream.
“But Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the men from Ashdod were very angry. They heard that the people continued working on the walls of Jerusalem. They heard the people were repairing the holes in the wall. So all these men got together and made plans against Jerusalem. They planned to stir up trouble against Jerusalem. They planned to come and fight against the city. But we prayed to our God. And we put guards on the walls to watch day and night so that we could be ready to meet them,” he indicated.
The National Cathedral project has faced many criticism after government spent almost GH₵400 million without anything to show for.
Many have said the project, which is Akufo-Addo’s personal promise to God should have solicited funds from the private sector and the churches just as the President had initially indicated.
However, government has invested huge sums of money into it without budgetary allocation to that effect, with the Minority shooting down the financial proposition for it in the 2023 budget.
By Felix Anim-Appau|Onuaonline.com
