Afenyo-Markin insists National Cathedral should be completed

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has reiterated the Minority’s support for the completion of the National Cathedral, describing the project as one that could serve purposes beyond religious worship.

Speaking during an engagement with the Christian Council, Mr Afenyo-Markin argued that the facility could contribute to Ghana’s tourism sector, enhance the country’s image and provide a national space for bringing people together.

“This National Cathedral, we need it as a nation. It shouldn’t be too simplistic that cathedral is just for prayer. It is also for tourism,” he said.

The Effutu MP pointed to an old mosque in Türkiye as an example of how religious and historical landmarks can attract visitors and contribute to tourism.

According to him, the mosque attracts about 4,000 visitors each day because of its historical and architectural value, and he believes the National Cathedral could similarly become a major attraction if completed.

“So if we have the cathedral, it’s not only for the Christian community, it is for the entire nation. It is tourism potential, it is image and the image of the country, it becomes a rallying point for us as a country,” he said.

Mr Afenyo-Markin, however, criticised the government’s handling of the National Cathedral site, saying its position on the future of the project has been unclear.

He accused the government of sending conflicting messages about what it intends to do with the site.

“The government is showing inconsistency. It says one thing today, it says another tomorrow. We don’t know what they want to use the site for. There’s no clarity as to what they want to use the site for,” he said.

He subsequently called for wider consultations among relevant stakeholders to determine the future of the National Cathedral and establish a clear direction for the project.