The Trades Union Congress, TUC, is asking President Akufo-Addo to shelve plans to build a National Cathedral or be prepared to face a massive campaign to oppose what it says is a misplaced priority.
A statement signed by Secretary General, Dr. Yaw Baah, said the TUC cannot sit down for ‘the construction of a cathedral to be made ‘a priority among priorities’ when many mothers and children are dying needlessly due to inadequate health facilities.
President Akufo-Addo had earlier mounted a spirited defence of the construction of the cathedral, describing it as a priority among priorities.
This is inspite of opposition from some persons who have described it as a waste of resources.
The TUC says it will continue to support government initiatives that seek to address the socio-economic challenges of the country, but find the construction of the Cathedral as unnecessary.
Meanwhile, Government has responded to the statement by the TUC, describing it as out of place.
According to Deputy Minister for Information, Pius Enam Hadzide, the President’s description of the construction of the Cathedral as a priority among priorities does not mean other sectors will be neglected.
The national cathedral
The national cathedral, expected to have 5,000 seating capacity, is a planned interdenominational Christian cathedral scheduled to be built in Accra as part of Ghana’s 60th anniversary celebrations.
President Akufo-Addo pledged the construction of a national cathedral and cut the sod for its construction last year.
A piece of land has been secured, architectural works completed and the Christian community tasked to use innovative means to pool resources for the construction.
The initiative, siting and the funding of the project have for the past months generated several debates at various levels as some condemned its urgency, lack of cash, among other issues.
