When they want to kick against the construction of the National Cathedral, they remind us that Ghana is a Secular State. But the question is, how does a secular state get to do with Almighty God?
God used in the 1992 Constitution, National Pledge and National Anthem is predominantly worshiped and served by Christians and Muslims in the Cathedral and Mosque respectively.
In Ghana, Swearing of Oath is done by using either the Holy Bible, Holy Cross or the Holy Quran. Through NDC government in collaboration with the government of Turkey and the Ghanaian Muslims Community successfully constructed a National Mosque to house the Holy Quran. The land for the construction of the National Mosque at Kawukudi was freely given by NDC government.
So what is wrong if Akufo-Addo’s government is assisting the Christian community, the largest religious community to construct a National Cathedral to house the Holy Bible and the Holy Cross? Absolutely, there is nothing wrong with that.
It is unfortunate to hear commentaries from Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa and his like-minded people who claim to be Christians attacking, undermining and kicking against any move by Akufo-Addo’s government to support the successful construction of the National Cathedral in Ghana.
It is very interesting to hear from Okudzeto and his people making a case for lack of prioritization. They asked, why should Akufo-Addo’s government gives GH¢25 million as seed money for the construction of the National Cathedral when there is flooding, non-payment of NABCO trainees, school feeding caterers, service personnel etc. Clearly, such arguments sound bizarre and far-fetched.
Were those aforementioned problems solved when NDC freely gave $13million for just consultancy services for the failed Saglemi Housing Project?
Did NDC government finish solving all the problems in Ghana before spending almost $196, 428, 891.66 on the failed Saglemi Affordable Housing Project with the contractor having been paid $179,904,757.78?
We shouldn’t create the wrong impression that the amount of money spent by Akufo-Addo’s government is going into waste. The money donated by Akufo-Addo’s government as seed money and contributions to the National Cathedral will be used to pay Ghanaian workers working on the National Cathedral project site and mind you these are also Ghanaians contributing to their quota to the Country’s GDP and the economy.
The National Cathedral just like the National Mosque shall contribute significantly to job creation, and religious tourism and serve as one of the outstanding Legacy projects of the Country.
If indeed Okudzeto Ablakwa and some NDC people are vehemently against the construction of the National Cathedral because it is not a priority and Ghana is a secular state, then I would like to urge NDC to start advocating for the Removal of “In the Name of the Almighty God”, “So help me God” and “God bless our homeland Ghana” from the 1992 Constitution, National Pledge and National Anthem respectively.
Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa as a Member of Parliament was sworn into office by the “Holy Bible” and he did so in the “In the Name of the Almighty God” and ended with “So help me God”.
So why is he hiding behind politics to speak ignorantly shredded in propaganda against the construction of the National Cathedral as well as fighting the interest of the Christians Community?
The 1992 Constitution begins with “In the Name of the Almighty God” we the people of Ghana,…. before we proceed to the Chapters of the 1992 Constitution.
In the 1992 Constitution, there are about 12 Forms of Oath, and all begin with “In the Name of the Almighty God” and end with “So help me God”. The Oaths found in the 1992 Constitution are as follows:
1. The Oath of Allegiance
2. The Presidential Oath
3. The Oath of the Vice-President
4. The Judicial Oath
5. The Oath of Member of Council of State
6. The Cabinet Oath
7. The Oath of Minister of State
8. The Oath of Secrecy
9. The Official Oath
10. The Speaker’s Oath
11. The Oath of a Member of Parliament
12. The Oath of the Auditor-General.
I will like to urge Okudzeto Ablakwa to channel his youthful energies into something better and stop the needless primary school analysis on Facebook. It does not properly define him as a mature person.
