Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has appealed to Christian leaders to collaborate with the governmnet to complete the National Cathedral project.
According to the NPP flagbearer, the Church ought to take the lead in finding a solution, including exploring private-sector funding options.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, then the presidential candidate of the NPP, had pledged to build a cathedral in God’s honour if elected. However, the project, intended to be completed and commissioned by March 6, 2024, has been stalled due to public debate over its funding and issues concerning the Board of Trustees.
Speaking during his ‘Bold Solution’ tour of the Greater Accra Region where he met the clergy in Accra, Dr Bawumia proposed a new approach to ensure the project’s progress.
“The question on the National Cathedral is a very important one. The National Cathedral, I have contributed to it personally and I believe it is a very important thing for Ghana, but I think as it stands now, the church must come together with the government and let us sit down and talk about the way forward.’’
As part of his tour, Vice President Bawumia has been meeting stakeholders nationwide to gather input for the NPP’s 2024 Election Manifesto. He reiterated plans to implement a flat tax rate in 2025 following a tax amnesty for all citizens.
Dr. Bawumia highlighted the potential of using the country’s gold reserves to stabilize the Cedi. He proposed resourcing the Geological Survey Authority and technical universities to explore the seven gold belts in the country to ensure positive outcomes from the gold concessions.
Additionally, he repeated his plans to establish a Minerals Development Bank to support small-scale miners, aiming to generate three billion dollars annually from the sector.
On improving fiscal discipline, the NPP Flagbearer assured that his administration would ensure the Fiscal Responsibility Council operates independently, overseeing the Ministry of Finance. He also promised to reduce government expenditure by three per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), amounting to approximately GHc30 billion annually.
