Mahama Ayariga Vetting: Minister-designate Says National Cathedral Was a Good Idea Badly Executed

• Minister-designate Mahama Ayariga gave his assessment of the National Cathedral project during his vetting before Parliament's Appointments Committee
• The Bawku Central MP said he had no objection to establishing a national cathedral for Christians in Ghana but raised concerns about the project
• Ayariga pointed to a specific aspect of the project he personally took issue with, stopping short of an outright rejection of the initiative

Minister-designate for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga believes the National Cathedral project championed by former President Nana Akufo-Addo was a sound concept undermined by poor execution.

Ayariga made the remarks on Thursday during his appearance before Parliament's Appointments Committee, where he was being vetted ahead of a possible confirmation as minister.

The Bawku Central MP told the committee he held no fundamental opposition to the idea of building a dedicated national cathedral for Ghanaian Christians, arguing that religious practice plays a central role in the lives of most Ghanaians.

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"I believe that Ghanaians are deeply religious even though constitutionally, we are regarded as a secular state. I believe that having cathedrals, church buildings, mosques and other worshipping centres are great and exciting things that enable the practice of religions," he said.

"And so in my opinion, I don't think there is anything wrong with having a national cathedral for the Christians of the country. And if you are talking about the National Cathedral that Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo initiated when he was president, I don't see anything wrong with it. I think it was a good idea that was badly executed. I personally had issues with the location."

Location a Key Concern for the Minister-Designate

While stopping short of condemning the project outright, Ayariga indicated that his primary reservation centred on where the structure was to be sited, though he did not specify an alternative location during the vetting session.

The National Cathedral project, announced under the Akufo-Addo administration, attracted considerable public debate during its development, with critics questioning the use of state resources and the circumstances surrounding its planning and execution.

The project has remained a subject of national conversation well beyond the tenure of the administration that initiated it.

Source: YEN.com.gh