A member of the National Cathedral board of trustees, Rev. Dr. Joyce Rosalind Aryee has mounted another spirited defense for the construction of the controversial cathedral.
According to her, the cathedral is a multi-purpose complex that can be used for state functions that will serve the entire country instead of only the President.
President Akufo-Addo while cutting sod for the commencement of the project said “I made a pledge to the almighty God that if he was gracious enough to grant my party, the NPP and I victory in the 2016 elections after two unsuccessful attempts, I will help build a cathedral to his glory and honor.”
This statement has been the subject of the cathedral’s controversies with many Ghanaians describing the construction as unnecessary, particularly in the country’s current economic situation.
But defending the project in an interview on MX24Tv’s Spotlight Show, Rev. Joyce Aryee who is also the Executive Director of the Salt and Light Ministries said the President need not deny other Ghanaians the opportunity to be blessed by God.
“The President made that decision as a Christian, why would he deny other Christians of being part of the project? Even if he had all the resources, God will still be more than happy for you to draw other people in. Even if he did it, it’s for the whole nation.”
She says apart from the original design of the cathedral, which will include a museum, music school, art gallery and other components, the structure will serve as a location for state functions which hitherto were organized at the Independence Square.
“It’s not just a chapel, it’s not just a sanctuary, it’s a complex. Sometimes the name cathedral makes people think it’s Roman Catholic, Anglican or Methodist, no, it is Christian, a sanctuary for all denominations, a sanctuary for state functions, for example, if you want to swear in a president, wouldn’t it be nice to do it at the cathedral? She quizzed.
On concerns the accounts of the National Cathedral needs to be audited, Joyce Aryee said the company has named an auditor who has been auditing its books since 2019 to date.
Two members of the Board of Trustees, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams and Reverend Eastwood Anaba called for the suspension of the project for an audit to be conducted to ensure transparency and accountability.
Reacting to the viral memo, Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee said such developments are in the past and should no longer be regarded as important
“It’s interesting that people who come to meetings all the time should do that. Again, I’d like to see it as water under the bridge because the two of them wrote a document that they wanted the whole board to adopt and we did not,” she told Adwoa Tenkoramaa on Spotlight.
