<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" > <channel> <title>National Cathedral project Archives - Sweet Melodies FM</title> <atom:link href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/tag/national-cathedral-project/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/tag/national-cathedral-project/</link> <description>Keeping You Sanctified Morning, Noon and Night!</description> <lastBuildDate>Mon, 13 Jun 2022 16:44:02 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1</generator> <image> <url>https://i0.wp.com/www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/cropped-Sweet-Melodies-FM_text_favicon.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1</url> <title>National Cathedral project Archives - Sweet Melodies FM</title> <link>https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/tag/national-cathedral-project/</link> <width>32</width> <height>32</height> </image> <item> <title>Ablakwa: Why the rush to complete National Cathedral</title> <link>https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/ablakwa-why-the-rush-to-complete-national-cathedral/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Editor]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 13 Jun 2022 16:44:02 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Features]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[National Cathedral project]]></category> <category><![CDATA[North Tongu constituency]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Samuel Okudzeto Ablawkwa]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/?p=77846</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>The Member of Parliament for the North Tongu constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablawkwa, has questioned what he described as the government’s “indecent haste” to complete the National Cathedral project. Speaking to Citi News, the MP said it would have been more prudent to make the cathedral project a long-term one. The government is currently targeting 2024 […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/ablakwa-why-the-rush-to-complete-national-cathedral/">Ablakwa: Why the rush to complete National Cathedral</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com">Sweet Melodies FM</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>The Member of Parliament for the North Tongu constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablawkwa, has questioned what he described as the government’s “indecent haste” to complete the National Cathedral project.</strong></p> <p>Speaking to Citi News, the MP said it would have been more prudent to make the cathedral project a long-term one.</p> <p>The government is currently targeting 2024 to commission the project that started in 2018.</p> <p>“Who is chasing us? Has God suddenly become homeless that he is [desperately] depending on Ghana to get him a place to reside,” Mr. Ablakwa asked.</p> <p>“If we spread [the project in phases] then it can be easy on the suffering masses. If you take the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, it took the Americans 82 years to construct,” he noted further.</p> <p>Mr. Ablakwa also questioned the morality of the project because of the lack of accountability from the government.</p> <p>“And is he [God] going to reside in a cathedral that is premised on deception, corruption, lawlessness, diversion of funds?”</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/anxiety-over-national-cathedral-shows-a-misunderstanding-of-project-ceo/">Anxiety over National Cathedral shows a misunderstanding of project – CEO</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/ofori-atta-must-brief-parliament-on-national-cathedral-spending-minority/">Ofori-Atta must brief Parliament on National Cathedral spending –Minority</a></li> </ul> <p>Mr. Ablakwa urged the government to seek parliamentary approval for the financing of the project.</p> <p>“The Finance Minister knows what to do. If in your mind, you are putting up a government of Ghana project, or you are going to support this project with the people’s resources, allocate it in the budget… list it, cost it then get Parliamentary approval.”</p> <p>Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta will later this week appear before Parliament to answer some 16 questions, including queries on the National Cathedral, tabled for him by MPs.</p> <p>The $350 million project was envisioned by the government in March 2017 as a physical embodiment of national unity, harmony, and spirituality.</p> <p>The inter-denominational cathedral is expected to have an auditorium capable of seating 5,000 people, as well as chapels, and a baptistery.</p> <p>The President has said the controversial project is in fulfilment of a promise he made to God in the run-up to the 2016 election.</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/ablakwa-why-the-rush-to-complete-national-cathedral/">Ablakwa: Why the rush to complete National Cathedral</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com">Sweet Melodies FM</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>Ofori-Atta to appear in Parliament to answer long-standing questions this week</title> <link>https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/ofori-atta-to-appear-in-parliament-to-answer-long-standing-questions-this-week/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Editor]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 13 Jun 2022 13:31:29 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Features]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ken Ofori-Atta]]></category> <category><![CDATA[National Cathedral project]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Parliament of Ghana]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/?p=77819</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta will later this week appear before Parliament to answer some 16 questions tabled for him by MPs. The Minister is expected to answer questions on the economy, payment of funds to the National Cathedral Project, and the government’s expenditure of COVID-19 funds, which has become dominant in public discussions in recent […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/ofori-atta-to-appear-in-parliament-to-answer-long-standing-questions-this-week/">Ofori-Atta to appear in Parliament to answer long-standing questions this week</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com">Sweet Melodies FM</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta will later this week appear before Parliament to answer some 16 questions tabled for him by MPs.</strong></p> <p>The Minister is expected to answer questions on the economy, payment of funds to the National Cathedral Project, and the government’s expenditure of COVID-19 funds, which has become dominant in public discussions in recent times.</p> <p>Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin said on the floor of the House that the Minister’s appearance this week will put all matters which have been of concern to legislators, especially on the minority side, to rest.</p> <p>“We all know that on Thursday, the minister [of Finance] is coming here to answer 16 questions. Questions that are coming from members, and bother on national issues,” he said.</p> <p><span class="s2"><span class="bumpedFont15">Last month, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban </span></span><span class="s2"><span class="bumpedFont15">Bagbin,</span></span><span class="s2"><span class="bumpedFont15"> placed a moratorium on the approval of a 75 million euro loan for COVID-19 Response contracted from the European Investment Bank by the Government of Ghana. </span></span></p> <p><span class="s2"><span class="bumpedFont15">The Speaker said it will be in place until the Minister for Finance accounts for the utilization of funds approved so far for government.</span></span></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/is-ken-ofori-atta-misleading-us/">Is Ken Ofori-Atta misleading us?</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/national-cathedral-is-a-potential-investment-that-will-pay-dividends-ofori-atta-to-critics/">National Cathedral is a potential investment that will pay dividends – Ofori-Atta to critics</a></li> </ul> <p>“The Ministry of Finance must give an account of all the monies that it has gotten for the management of COVID-19. Only after that will this house consider approving or otherwise another loan.”</p> <p>The minister had been criticised severally by members of the minority over his failure to appear in Parliament when summoned to come and answer urgent questions filed by legislators.</p> <p>In March 2022, the Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak, called for definite instructions to the Minister of Finance over his failure to appear before Parliament to answer questions.</p> <p>The Minister had been programmed to answer about ten questions on different subject matters at the time but did not show up to answer any of them.</p> <p>Raising concerns on the floor of the House earlier, Muntaka said the Minister has consistently failed to honour Parliament’s invitation to answer questions, some of which have been pending for a long time.</p> <p>“I find this to be very unacceptable because the Finance Minister can go around the country and do town hall meetings, yet he doesn’t want to come here to answer to the reps of the people. All the 13 questions have been outstanding for a very long time. Today we are told he is holding a press conference to address the country. My worry is that, if we keep accommodating his excuses, this question will never be answered. We should give a definite instruction to the Finance Minister to come and answer the questions,” he said.</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/ofori-atta-to-appear-in-parliament-to-answer-long-standing-questions-this-week/">Ofori-Atta to appear in Parliament to answer long-standing questions this week</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com">Sweet Melodies FM</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>Anxiety over National Cathedral shows a misunderstanding of project – CEO</title> <link>https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/anxiety-over-national-cathedral-shows-a-misunderstanding-of-project-ceo/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Editor]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 13 Jun 2022 13:23:08 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Features]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Dr. Paul Opoku-Mensah]]></category> <category><![CDATA[National Cathedral project]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/?p=77815</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>Managers of the National Cathedral say the furore over the building of the edifice stems from a misunderstanding of the significance of the project. Chief Executive Officer of the National Cathedral Project, Dr. Paul Opoku-Mensah is particularly saddened that Ghanaians are failing to appreciate what the monument will mean for Ghana’s religious architecture and heritage. […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/anxiety-over-national-cathedral-shows-a-misunderstanding-of-project-ceo/">Anxiety over National Cathedral shows a misunderstanding of project – CEO</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com">Sweet Melodies FM</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Managers of the National Cathedral say the furore over the building of the edifice stems from a misunderstanding of the significance of the project.</strong></p> <p>Chief Executive Officer of the National Cathedral Project, Dr. Paul Opoku-Mensah is particularly saddened that Ghanaians are failing to appreciate what the monument will mean for Ghana’s religious architecture and heritage.</p> <p>“Why is there whole national angst about the National Cathedral? I think it’s really a misunderstanding of the nature of the Cathedral. People think we have almost 30,000 churches, so why have a Cathedral? That is where the problem lies”, said Dr. Paul Opoku-Mensah.</p> <p>He argued that the project cannot be abandoned, as many have suggested, by virtue of economic challenges.</p> <p>Speaking on Talking Point on GTV on Sunday, Dr. Opoku-Mensah pointed out that aside from enhancing Ghana’s spiritual growth and social cohesion, the National Cathedral will also make the country a spiritual tourism destination.</p> <p>“This is going to be sacred space of the nation. This is one of the things the country has lacked, that is why the President said it is the missing link in the nation’s architecture. For instance, the Bible museum we are developing has a systematic focus.”</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/ablakwa-national-cathedral-couldve-been-sited-at-aicc-to-save-money/">Ablakwa: National Cathedral could’ve been sited at AICC to save money</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/franklin-cudjoe-timing-of-gh%c2%a225m-seed-money-for-national-cathedral-worrying/">Franklin Cudjoe: Timing of GH¢25M seed money for National Cathedral worrying</a></li> </ul> <p>“We really want Ghana to be the centre where one can explore. Literally, what we are trying to do is to drive the traffic and be able to develop the infrastructure and have the kind of artefacts that tell the Christian story. It’s just like bringing the holy land to Accra,” he said.</p> <p>On the same programme, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta asked opposers of the National Cathedral project to be measured in their criticisms.</p> <p>He said government is mindful of taxpayers’ money being used to support the building of the National Cathedral and is strategizing to ensure that monies pumped into the construction are recouped within the shortest possible time after construction.</p> <p>For him, the current economic challenges should not deter the state from fulfilling its responsibility to build a monument that has huge investment potential.</p> <p>“At any point in time when these buildings were built in Europe, was it ever the right time? How do we fund it will become the question. Is the executive mindful of the current situation? We shouldn’t snuff out our religiousness or spirituality because we are poor. The Lord will understand if we put our widow’s mite in there.”</p> <p>The Finance Minister believes the raging debate on financial prudence and relevance of the National Cathedral is misguided.</p> <p><span class="Apple-converted-space">“That question being asked is that are we spending money from state coffers? Is that too much to do because we are politicizing it. Do we really want to stop it? That is going to be my question.”</span></p> <p>Ken Ofori- Atta, rather, wants critics not to lose sight of the real returns the National Cathedral project could generate to shore up government’s revenue target.</p> <p><span class="Apple-converted-space">“As a Minister of Finance, we are looking at resources and how much we put in there at every point in time that is sensible and so as we speak, we have spent less than one-thousandth of our expenditure on that.”</span></p> <p><span class="Apple-converted-space">“I am very confident of raising revenue to be able to fund this and then more importantly if I want to look into the economics of it, I truly see an overwhelming capacity that this will pay off. Typically, I am looking at an internal rate of return, so we should put this in mind”, the Minister added.</span></p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/anxiety-over-national-cathedral-shows-a-misunderstanding-of-project-ceo/">Anxiety over National Cathedral shows a misunderstanding of project – CEO</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com">Sweet Melodies FM</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>National Cathedral is a potential investment that will pay dividends – Ofori-Atta to critics</title> <link>https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/national-cathedral-is-a-potential-investment-that-will-pay-dividends-ofori-atta-to-critics/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Editor]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 13 Jun 2022 11:15:13 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Features]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ken Ofori-Atta]]></category> <category><![CDATA[National Cathedral project]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/?p=77797</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>Finance Minister Ken Ofori- Atta has asked opposers of the National Cathedral project to be measured in their criticisms. He says the government is mindful of taxpayers’ money being used to support the building of the National Cathedral and is strategizing to ensure that monies pumped into the construction are recouped within the shortest possible […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/national-cathedral-is-a-potential-investment-that-will-pay-dividends-ofori-atta-to-critics/">National Cathedral is a potential investment that will pay dividends – Ofori-Atta to critics</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com">Sweet Melodies FM</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Finance Minister Ken Ofori- Atta has asked opposers of the National Cathedral project to be measured in their criticisms.</strong></p> <p>He says the government is mindful of taxpayers’ money being used to support the building of the National Cathedral and is strategizing to ensure that monies pumped into the construction are recouped within the shortest possible time after construction.</p> <p>For him, the current economic challenges should not deter the state from fulfilling its responsibility to build a monument that has huge investment potential.</p> <p>“At any point in time when these buildings were built in Europe, was it ever the right time? How do we fund it will become the question. Is the executive mindful of the current situation?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We shouldn’t snuff out our religiousness or spirituality because we are poor. The Lord will understand if we put our widows mite in there”, he said on state broadcaster, GTV on Sunday.</p> <p>Government is under pressure to abort its ambition for the National Cathedral project, given the country’s economic downturn and tough times being faced by the citizenry.</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/ofori-atta-must-brief-parliament-on-national-cathedral-spending-minority/">Ofori-Atta must brief Parliament on National Cathedral spending –Minority</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/national-cathedral-adjaye-legal-receives-gh32-million-john-kumah/">National Cathedral: Adjaye legal receives GH32 million – John Kumah</a></li> </ul> <p>This was after it emerged government recently released GH¢25 million to the National Cathedral Secretariat as additional seed money for the project.</p> <p>But the Finance Minister believes the raging debate on the financial prudence and relevance of the National Cathedral is misguided.</p> <p><span class="Apple-converted-space">“That question being asked is that are we spending money from state coffers? Is that too much to do because we are politicizing it. Do we really want to stop it? That is going to be my question.”</span></p> <div class="google-auto-placed ap_container"> <p>Ken Ofori- Atta, rather, wants critics not to lose sight of the real returns the National Cathedral project could generate to shore up government’s revenue target.</p> <p><span class="Apple-converted-space">“As a Minister of Finance, we are looking at resources and how much we put in there at every point in time that is sensible and so as we speak, we have spent less than one-thousandth of our expenditure on that.”</span></p> <p><span class="Apple-converted-space">“I am very confident of raising revenue to be able to fund this and then more importantly if I want to look into the economics of it, I truly see an overwhelming capacity that this will pay off. Typically, I am looking at an internal rate of return, so we should put this in mind”, the Minister added.</span></p> </div> <p>The post <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/national-cathedral-is-a-potential-investment-that-will-pay-dividends-ofori-atta-to-critics/">National Cathedral is a potential investment that will pay dividends – Ofori-Atta to critics</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com">Sweet Melodies FM</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> </channel> </rss> <!-- WP Super Cache is installed but broken. The constant WPCACHEHOME must be set in the file wp-config.php and point at the WP Super Cache plugin directory. -->