The National Cathedral Secretariat has asked the public to go easy on government regarding a GH₵100 donation announced by the Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Attah during the Mid-Year budget presentation on Thursday July 29, 2021, in the aide of National Cathedral construction.
The secretariat insisted that the mobilisation of funds towards the construction of the National Cathedral is not a part of government’s programme but an initiative has introduced.
The Secretariat says the facility is only supported by government as it spearheads its own fundraising activities under the leadership of the Board of Trustees.
This comes on the back of criticism that greeted the Finance Minister’s call for Ghanaians to donate towards the construction.
Speaking on Citi FM, monitored by Mynewsafric.com, the Chief Executive Officer of the Secretariat, Dr. Paul Opoku-Mensah, insisted that the initiative was not from government, but rather “It was an update of the fundraising we said was going to happen, and it is not only happening, but it has become this creative process where new initiatives are introduced”.
Mr. Opoku-Mensah stressed that the initiative is aimed at ensuring that as many Ghanaians who will take part in the donation, will have their names written in the history.
“The Launch is to ensure that as many Ghanaians as possible are given the opportunity to write their names in the history of the Cathedral.”
Presenting the 2021 Mid-Year Budget Review statement on Thursday July 29, 2021, the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta revealed a GH₵¢100-a-Month donation by the public to mobilise “one million Ghanaians who will donate towards the construction of the National Cathedral.”
“We look forward to Mr. Speaker and members of this august House joining the ‘¢100-a-Month Club’ and thus adding their names to the historic coalition that would build the National Cathedral to the glory of God and the edification of our nation and its people”.
He further announced a shortcode to facilitate the collection set to be launched as the ‘Ketewa Biara Nsua’ programme on August 12.
Government says the National Cathedral is expected to be officially opened on March 6, 2024.
