General News of Sunday, 21 July 2024

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

National Cathedral: We’ve built a foundation, not the 'world’s most expensive pit' – Tourism minister

Aerial view of the current state of the National Cathedral project play videoAerial view of the current state of the National Cathedral project

The Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Andrew Egyapa Mercer, has refuted assertions that no significant work has been done in the construction of the National Cathedral of Ghana despite the fact that the government has spent about $58 million on the project.

Speaking during a panel discussion on the Good Morning Ghana programme, on Friday, July 21, 2024, Egyapa Mercer disowned the description of the project as the “world’s most expensive pit”.

The minister, who made this assertion in the presence of the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, explained that what Ablakwa and critics are describing as the “world’s most expensive pit” is the foundation of the National Cathedral.

He claimed that the MP agreed with him in parliament that what Ghanaians see at the site of the project now is its foundation, a claim Ablakwa refuted.

“We both agree that as opposed to your description of the world’s most expensive pit. It is a foundation that has been built,” he said.

Ablakwa retorted, “You’re cracking me up this morning. A $58 million foundation.”

Egyapa Mercer went on to explain that a lot has gone into the project, saying, “A lot of work has been done there as a matter of fact. Yes, the building has not come up out of the ground.”

He also argued that the government must fully fund the project because it would be a great source of income for it.

Watch his remarks in the video below:



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