The Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has firmly rejected claims that the government is converting the controversial National Cathedral project into a National Cultural Convention Centre.
Speaking on Citi FM on Tuesday, July 22, the Minister described the reports as “false” and “misleading,” adding that no such decision has been made by the administration.
His response comes after media speculation suggested the government was repurposing the stalled cathedral as part of its 24-hour economy strategy to boost the culture and creative arts sector under the initiative dubbed ‘SHOW24’. But Mr. Kwakye Ofosu insists the speculation is unfounded. “Let me clarify that, contrary to reports that emerged last week, the government has not decided to turn the site into a cultural convention centre; nothing of the sort has happened,” he said.
According to the Minister, a continental organisation that currently rents space in Accra had submitted an unsolicited proposal to the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat to build a headquarters and a cultural centre on the Cathedral site. However, he was emphatic that the proposal has neither been reviewed nor accepted by the government. “It is merely an unsolicited proposal. The government has not engaged with it or taken any decision in that regard,” he emphasized.
He also used the platform to restate President John Mahama’s hardline stance on the cathedral. “I can state with authority that as long as President Mahama remains the head of this country, he is unprepared to see even a pesewa of taxpayers’ money put into this National Cathedral project,” he declared. The remark signals a clear shift in approach from the previous administration’s support for the project.
Mr. Kwakye Ofosu concluded by assuring the public that a forensic audit will determine the fate of the project site. “As for what will be done to the site, that determination will be made after we have all the facts. But I can assure Ghanaians that no public fund will go into this cathedral,” he reaffirmed. The Minister’s statement adds fresh fuel to ongoing debates over the fate of one of Ghana’s most controversial and polarizing national projects.
