National Cathedral Must Stand as a Symbol of Gratitude, Not a Battlefield of Partisan Narratives

Ghana’s official National Anthem is tilted ‘GOD BLESS OUR HOMELAND GHANA’. Thus this truly demos that Ghanaians with integrity place God at the Center of Nation building. Consequently, the National Cathedral should be used to demo the spiritual gratitude of Ghanaians to God, that is the heartfelt appreciation of Ghanaians for the Rich Natural Resources as gifted by God. As well as for the able leaderships of all the elected Presidents of Ghana that saw the Peace and Stability under the Fourth Republic of Ghana.

So, Ghana’s Multipurpose National Cathedral Project when completed will symbolizes spiritual gratitude of the Citizens for the blesses God really gave and is giving to Ghana. The Holy Quran at Surah Ali ‘Imran 3.26 explicitly states that Allah bestows leadership. Likewise the Holy Bible at Roman 13:1 says that it is God who nominates a Leader and the citizens are required by God to obey the Leader as nominated.

So, His Excellency President Mahama, by God rose within the Political ladder from Assembly Man through the echelons of Member of Parliament, Deputy Minister, Minister, Vice President, Acting President, President, and Former President to his final four years tour as the President of Ghana. God has a reason for these feats. His Excellency President Mahama needs to reflect/appreciate this and work hard to unite the nation behind God, the fear of God to ensure godly or honorable acts.

Thus as the celebrated leader/ President of Ghana and Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ghana, he has the duty of care to ensure decorous or godly conducts by every person disregard to his or her Religious and or Political affiliation. He therefore must ensure the players in the Justice system are fair as per the Oath of Presidential Office.

So these achievements with the associated experiences should be used for God’s purpose especially a Better Ghana to the glory of God. A Better Ghana, among others, of decorous citizens working collectively to make Ghana as the Mecca of African Unity with the National Cathedral, as the embodiment of Unity, Harmony and Spiritual Gratitude/Wisdom Center, hence the beacon (the symbol of hope) for Africans. Thus making Ghana to become a hub of a massive tourism industry.

Ghana is presently suffering from the national disease of rancor/acrimony, with toxic abusive and disrespectful or vulgar languages in the political communication. This national disease is a disincentive for the growth of the tourism industry in the Service Sector of the Economy, which is the leading Sector of the Economy; hence it is going to anchor/support the economy when the minerals and petroleum oil are depleted.

So, there is an urgent need for a National collective effort to restore politeness, respect, and decency by shifting to policy based debates to show level of intellect and not emotion in the Country. That is moving away from personal attacks, character assassinations, and name calling to focusing energies toward healthy debates on governance and infrastructure to sustain the national peace and stability.

President Nkrumah of Ghana is the architect of the OAU now AU. President Mahama, one of the key Nkrumahists, as the next nominee as Chairman of AU, needs to show how he is going to perform with a difference to unite the people of the African Continent/descents. One way is to see to the use of the Reset Agenda to reset the mindset of Ghanaian political actors and their associates to stop the culture of insults and see to embrace all Ghanaians for the Ghana Project. Thus by uniting the Nation first, in a Ghana First Agenda.

Consequently, His Excellency President Mahama should please demo his very rich Leadership/diplomatic skills by SEEING TO THE CLEANSING OF GHANA WITH THE CULTURE OF INSULTS THAT IS CAUSING THE RANCOR AND ACRIMONY.

It is envisaged that a national thanksgiving service to the glory of God for the natural resources, the peace and stability may do the magic. So, the President should consider getting the living Past Presidents, the Speaker of Parliament and leadership of Parliament, the Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court, Cardinal Appiah Turkson, Head of the Catholic Faith in Ghana, the Revered National Chief Imam, all the very Prominent Pastors, all the very/revered Prominent Chiefs acclaimed as Kings/President and members of the National House of Chief to the Site for the National Cathedral for the Thanksgiving Service. Others to join him at the Site should be key captains of Businesses, key members of the International Community.

At the Site, His Excellency Dear Mr President Mahama should announce that as the President of Ghana, the buck stops with him as the Risk Owner of Ghana to act appropriately for the Peace and stability of Ghana and to make Ghana to be the Mecca (hub) of a very massive tourism industry.

So, he has resolved to make the Nation to sacrifice with funds from the minerals and petroleum oil as gifted by God to complete the Multipurpose National Cathedral Project to be the physical infrastructure to demo our shared spiritual gratitude for God’s gifted rich natural resources, and for the peace and Stability of Ghana. Furthermore to be another engine to support the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park/Presidential Library and others to help drive the tourism industry.

So he wants each Ghanaian to be a New Citizen, a citizen with the qualities of being Patriotic, Diligent, Discipline, Well-informed, Respectful and one whose Integrity and Humbleness are his or her Greatness. These are the virtues President Kwame Nkrumah, the founder of the Nation dreamt of. So he wants everyone to see the Multipurpose National Cathedral Project, as Ghana’s Spiritual Gratitude Project, and to be a physical embodiment of national unity, harmony, and spirituality/for showcasing spiritual gratitude. For these reasons, it will be a key Minerals Wealth’s Legacy Project.

Thus the nation’s ceremonial landmark, Ghana’s nondenominational place to gather to worship and celebrate in spiritual accord. As well as potential landmark project for 24-hour economy and social activities place.

At the event, he should proclaim that henceforth, he as the Head of State, the President of Ghana, Head of the National Executive and the Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, hence the Risk Owner of Ghana, declares that all persons should see the National Cathedral as a symbol for national unity that will decorate each citizen as a New Citizen of Ghana, whose integrity and humbleness are his greatness.

So Ghanaians, Africans and Africans Diaspora should also see the National Cathedral as their hub (Mecca) for Unity, Harmony, Spirituality etc. Hence, it is recommended that it should be administered under the Leadership of the Office of Religious Affairs of Armed Forces of Ghana (Office of the Chaplain General/Chief Imam of Armed Forces of Ghana) to denote not for only Christians. Otherwise a well constituted secretariat under a Secretary General with a Governing Board.

So he, (Dear President Mahama) calls on the citizens to endeavor to start to forgive each other and see to the stopping of the culture of insults and support their leaders with constructive critism, opinions and should base their debates on national issues on governance and infrastructure in a decorous manner. The building’s Badge with national flag symbol should be issued to all invited guests. Same Badges should be available for sale to visitors to the National Cathedral on completion.

So, the Multipurpose National Cathedral Project should be for national nondenominational religious and other social activities including prayers, national education to be provided by Imams, Pastors, living past President of Ghana. Living Past Speakers of Parliament, living Past Chief Justice of Ghana, living Past Chairman of the Council State and other eminent Local and International persons. Likewise Paramount Chiefs who should see to exhibit the related traditions.

Thus the Multipurpose National Cathedral should be a shared National Asset hence to be without formal ties to traditional governing hierarchies of the Catholic, Methodist, Anglican, Presbyterian or Baptist, Pentecost etc.

Consequently, the National Cathedral besides as a Spiritual Center, for National Thanksgiving, State Burial, Presidential Inaugurations, will be a rich tourism site among others. Thus it also going to be a Social and Economic tool for Social and National Cohesions hence community and nation building.

Thus besides the related benefits, the National Cathedral is going to signify that Ghanaians place God at the Center of Nation building, as such, the National Cathedral is going to demo the spiritual gratitude of Ghanaians, with true integrity by rightly linking/aligning the Nation’s prayer in the National Anthem to God. Since, it will serve as the Nation’s collective thanksgiving for Ghana’s rich natural resources and for the Nation’s peace and stability.

Consequently, the National Cathedral is going to be a tool for national unity due to the likelihood of it facilitating a comprehensive National and sometimes Private non-denominational Religious Services and Social Activities especially education for Public Good. Hence, it is going to host non-Christians as well.

So it is going to be the National Spiritual Center, where Christians, Muslims and others as participants for national thanksgiving, Remembrance Day ceremonies, hence special prayer or social services etc, will collectively say the great one word AMEN to denote unison. Normally after a prayer or good messages by nominated Imams and Pastors/Priests. So the State hence Christians, Muslims and others and not only the Christian’s community must own it, as a shared National Asset.

Since besides anchoring State or National Religious services like Thanksgiving, hosting of State Funerals, as a symbol of spiritual gratitude, it will demo that God gifted minerals have been used as a legacy project for promoting the tourism industry as well. Hence, it also going to be national consequential multi-24-hour economy and social activities at one spot and the related areas (especially transporters) for all the local and international nationals/residents without exception.

This National Asset is therefore going to be a very important Reset Agenda tool for national unity and very good for promoting the Tourism industry, hence a source of revenue streams for the Nation and citizens in related businesses. These elements as stated when it is completed, will be possible since it is going to be made of four main structures or subprojects with ten distinct revenue streams. The four main structures are;

1. National Cathedral itself: To be made up of a large inter-non-denominational auditorium, for between 5,000 and 15,000 peoples. Alongside there is going to be ground ceremonial spaces with 1000-seater banquet hall.
2. Biblical Museum of Africa: A specialized facility to be dedicated to history by showcasing biblical history, artifacts and interactive galleries.
3. Biblical Gardens of Africa: Botanical and landscape gardens around biblical flora and reflective outdoor gardens spaces designed for education and prayer.
4. Commercial and supportive amenities: Multipurpose rental spaces, 350 seater biblical restaurants.

Thus, it is to be made of multipurpose projects with 10 specific revenue streams to raise 100 million dollars within the first five years. The projected revenue streams from tourism aspects are as follows:

1. Admission entry fees to the cathedral, with museum and gardens to attract a total rate of 10 to 15 US Dollars per foreign tourists with foreign visitors estimated at least 120,000 people per year, a total of 4 Dollars per head for domestic tourist adults, 2 Dollars per child for children between 10 years to 17 years.
2. Pre-opening memberships and ongoing members, the exact dues yet to be determined.
3. Event Spaces and Halls multipurpose rental spaces, a 1,000-seater banquet hall and Conference center. The exact rental fees, yet to be determined.
4. Dining facilities with biblical restaurants and dedicated café.
5. Catering event /catering services.
6. Rentals with one-site gift shops and souvenir outlets, rental fees yet to be determined.
7. Theater for performing arts and cultural events.
8. Special event for hosting national, international and private gatherings.
9. Online education digital learning programs and modules. Online merchandize (e –commerce) sales of branded items.

7. Banking facilities/Halls.
8. Others.

The above details speak of a very important national infrastructural asset with the capacity to provide the much talked about of 24-hour economy and social activities. Hence, it will have the potential to create over thousands jobs daily, direct and indirect, as well as with the capacity of creating payback revenue streams including related taxes along the value chain.

So, If something like the National Cathedral is worth doing for Public Good and for inducing 24-hour social and economic activities, then Ghana with the rich abundant natural resources gifted by God, should use part of God’s minerals capital for a godly tool that has the capacity to help in good character building. Among others, to inculcate and to induce positive and big thinking, respect for our leaders and elders mindsets and for building integrity and humbleness qualities for the Resetting Agenda.

The National Cathedral therefore is going to be an Irresistible Project in Ghana that can bring both Christians and Muslims, members especially the Leaders of both the NPP and NDC, as the source of the ruling administration in the Fourth Republic to come under one roof for one Ghana with a common destiny, to collectively pray for Ghana.

Hence prayers for the Government and people of Ghana, for the President of Ghana, his or her family, Past Presidents of Ghana, Past Speakers and current Speaker of Parliament, Minsters of State, Members of Parliament, Past and current Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court, for all Pastors, the Chiefs and people of Ghana. This will elicit them to spontaneously say the one word as AMEN after prayers or good messages by Imam, Bishop, and Pastors/Priest during National Thanksgiving etc at the National Cathedral.

So, completing the construction of the National Cathedral should be a national priority, since as stated, besides going to help to induce good Characters it will help Ghana act as a Mecca for all Africans.

The harm has been done to the buildings etc which were at the affected areas earmarked for this project, thus the horses have left the stable, and hence, this very prime land of the State is vacant should therefore be a very good place for the State to use to glorify God. So there should be no moving away from the National Cathedral as a landmark project earmarked for the Site.

So, the best place for the National Cathedral is at this location in Accra, since it may attract transit foreign and local visitors both day and night times, who may wish to visit a place of interest, if time permits. Thus making it the best or very good 24-Hours Economic and Social Project.

If the problem with the National Cathedral Project, is the possible both heavy human and vehicular traffic condition it may create, this can easily be properly managed by National Security Operation as usually done for national activities.

National Security Operations can say only special vehicles like Ayalolo Buses, or electric buses, electric cars and electric motors, electric bikes etc which DVLA is providing special number plates with blue strips, to be used as transportation assets to some areas or at some times especially at daytime, during national or very big religious program. All vehicles to the area in the night or ordinary days to be permissible.

A Reset Agenda is primarily about changing the narrative in Ghana, thus, it is also a tool for mindset revolution. So, among others the concept of Think Big, Think Positive, need for constructive critism, respect for leaders and elders which teaches at the Site will provide to change the narrative, so it should be national priority for peace and stability/24-Hours Economic and Social Project.. Otherwise the need for decided and decisive actions on the National Cathedral or converting the site for International Children Hospital etc as historical monument cannot be over emphasized.

The name National Cathedral denotes a National Asset for nondenominational services and not a Christian Asset to be handed over to the Christian Community for them to ask fellow Christians to contribute for its completion and own it and one may ask for what mission since each prominent member of the Christian Community or Faith Base institutions has own cathedral (church).

So, the National Cathedral should be a nondenominational one, a collective asset of the citizen of Ghana (the Ghanaian), the owner of the minerals in Ghana, signifying his/her thanks to God for the massive natural resources, since the activities at there and its chain are going to be the benefits of the Nation, hence Muslims included.