Henry Nana Boakye, the National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has clarified the reasons for suspending the National Cathedral project, offering insights into the factors that contributed to the delay.

The much-anticipated National Cathedral, a project that has drawn both support and criticism from various sectors of the public, has been sidelined for the time being.

Nana Boakye, in an exclusive interview with Fiifi Pratt on Kingdom FM monitored by MyNewsGh.com, shed light on the reasons behind the postponement, emphasizing the impact of two major global events: the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing conflict in Russia.

“The suspension of the National Cathedral project is largely due to unforeseen global challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic affected economies worldwide, including Ghana’s,” Nana Boakye explained during the interview.

“The pandemic required a significant reallocation of resources. Financial resources that were originally set aside for the Cathedral were redirected to stabilize the economy and offer relief to Ghanaians in the midst of a crisis.”

He elaborated on the immediate measures taken by the government to alleviate the hardships faced by Ghanaians, such as the provision of free electricity and water.

“President Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration took decisive steps to support the people of Ghana during this difficult period,” Nana Boakye said.

“Free electricity and water were provided to citizens to ease the burden of the pandemic.

“These were essential steps to keep the country moving forward, and as a result, the resources for the Cathedral had to be paused.”

The suspension of the project has raised questions, particularly as many Ghanaians were invested in the idea of a national monument that would stand as a symbol of the country’s Christian heritage.

However, Nana Boakye defended the government’s decision, arguing that the health and well-being of the people had to take precedence over the construction of the Cathedral during a time of crisis.

“The government had to prioritize economic stabilization over infrastructural projects. It was a matter of ensuring that Ghanaians could survive the pandemic without excessive hardship,” he noted.

“While the National Cathedral is an important project, the government’s focus was on saving lives and providing essential services to the people.”

The National Cathedral project was initially conceived as a major national initiative aimed at creating a space for religious activities while also serving as a tourist attraction.

Despite its suspension, Nana Boakye reassured the public that the project would eventually resume once the country’s economic situation improved.

“The National Cathedral is not abandoned. It’s simply on hold until the economic situation stabilizes,” he affirmed.

“Once we have successfully navigated through these global challenges, we will refocus our efforts on completing this important national monument.”