Features
What is so special about this National Cathedral Project?
In recent times, the most trending news on social media platforms and the traditional news space, is on the National Cathedral Project being embarked upon by the government cum private partnership in Accra, the capital city of Ghana. Hardly a day passes, without hearing something controversial on this topical issue, either on our traditional airwaves or in the print media.
QUESTIONS FROM GHANAIANS ABOUT THE CATHEDRAL PROJECT
Some of the contentious questions people are asking about this particular project are; what is so special about this so-called national cathedral in the midst of the present economic difficulties? What at all is in this national cathedral project which has been hidden from Ghanaians? Why is the government adamant and so committed to this project in spite of numerous calls from Ghanaians to it to tackle pressing issues that will put the economy back on track? What significant benefit is the country and for that matter, the people are going to derive from this national cathedral? Is this project meant to benefit the government or any single individual? Who is behind this particular project and where is the funding coming from? Is it a state or private sponsored project? Why is it that other social intervention programmes such as the National School Feeding Programme (NSFP), National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) project are all in arrears, yet we want to spend huge funds on this national cathedral project?
GHANAIANS’ ANXIETY ABOUT THE CATHEDRAL PROJECT
These and many other questions are agitating the minds of millions of Ghanaians most of whom are Christians alright but they feel that the present circumstance in which people find it difficult to make ends meet, does not merit the building of a national cathedral at the expense of their poverty and sufferings. However, what the government is saying is that the building of a national cathedral is of necessity and paramount and would, therefore, not listen to the protest by the people on whose mandates they came to power. That is interesting, indeed!
FINANCE MINISTER’S DEFENCE FOR THE PROJECT
Our Finance Minister, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, keeps defending the project saying it is a potential investment which would pay off in the future. Instead, he asked those who are opposing the project to be measured in their criticisms. He says government was mindful of taxpayers’ money being used to support the building of the national cathedral and was strategising to ensure that money pumped into the construction is recouped within the shortest possible time after construction.
To him, the current economic challenges should not deter the state from fulfilling its responsibility to build a monument that has huge investment potential. The cheek of it is that the Minister threw back his annoyance at Ghanaians on Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), the state broadcaster last Sunday for opposing the construction of the project. Hear him; “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”.
GHANAIANS ANXIOUS TO KNOW INVESTMENT POTENTIALS IN THIS PROJECT
The Finance Minister’s outburst on the state broadcaster on the opposition of this project is neither here nor there. Ghanaians will ask the minister; what kind of investment potential can they derive from this cathedral and in any case where will that benefits go to? Is it into people’s pocket or where? Will the benefits be shared to people who contributed to the fund towards the project? It is a fact that if the minister and his family are suffering like most Ghanaians who are finding it difficult to survive the present economic hardships in the country, he would have minded his choice of words, language and refrained from telling Ghanaians that they should not snuff out our religiousness or spirituality because they are poor.
In any case, how can the government release a colossal amount of GHc 25 million to the cathedral project as an additional seed money when projects meant to mitigate the hardships of most Ghanaians and the deprived communities are in huge arrears. That is unheard of in a sound democratic governance. Ghanaians are, indeed, not comfortable with the show of arrogance on the part of some of our leaders. They forget that we put them where they are through our thumbs.
COMPARING OURSELVES WITH OTHER ADVANCED NATIONS
Indeed, Ghana is a purely religious country with more than half of the population, 71.2 per cent forming the Christian community with about one-fifth making the Muslim movement and a small segment adhering to the traditional indigenous religions. Religious tolerance in Ghana is very high but that does not prevent the people from making the right choices and speaking their minds in times of difficulties and economic hardship. No right thinking person in Ghana will like to suffer while money meant to alleviate their sufferings are channelled to projects that are of less significance to the economic survival. All things being equal, Ghanaians will wholeheartedly embrace this cathedral project and contribute their quota towards its success, but that is not the case. In other jurisdictions such as United States of America and the United Kingdom among others, where they have these cathedrals in existence, they do not experience hardships like the way we do and, therefore, the system is smooth and friendly and can accommodate such project easily. There is no way we can compare ourselves with others who have put up cathedrals because their mode of financing some of these projects are entirely different from ours.
PROJECT LAUDABLE BUT NOT RELEVANT UNDER PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCE
This National Cathedral project is by all intents and purposes laudable not in dispute in any way because it is a planned inter-denominational Christian cathedral with a baptistery, a 5,000-seating capacity, two level auditorium, a grand central hall, music school, choir rehearsal, art gallery, shop as well as multi use spaces. We are told that aside all these facilities in the cathedral, it will serve also as the home to Africa’s first Bible Museum and Documentation Centre dedicated to Christianity and nation building in Ghana.
This ambitious project was an idea floated by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as part of Ghana’s 60th anniversary celebration and the design was unveiled by him in March 2018. Indeed, the beautiful design by David Adjaye and Associates, reflects the art and culture of Ghanaian ethnic groups, with the high pitched and staggered roof reminiscent of an Akan inspired architecture.
LET’S TREAD CAUTIOUSLY WITH THIS PROJECT
The cathedral project and its entire architecture are laudable initiative by the government which cannot be wished away. It portrays the level of Christian values in this country and how the people are anxious to worship the Almighty God with all their heart and might. However, the present economic circumstance, to many Ghanaians mostly the Christian community, does not encourage the construction of this project now using state resources. Ghanaians have raised their voices and if the government claims it is a listening one as it made us to understand at the initial stages, it can hold on to the project and bring it back at another time when the economy improves and on a sound footing. After all, there are quite a number of private auditoriums put up by some of the well-established religious leaders in our country which we can rely on for the meantime for both public and private engagements in addition to our well established various conference halls in Accra and elsewhere.
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By Charles Neequaye
When Abigail Fremah steps up to the Armwrestling table, the noise fades, the tension settles, and order takes over.
Despite a calm, but firm and meticulous disposition, she has become one of the quiet forces shaping Ghana’s growing reputation in the sport, not as an athlete, but a referee trusted on the continental stage.
Abigail’s journey into Armwrestling did not begin at the table. Like many Ghanaian sports enthusiasts, she grew up playing several disciplines. Football was her first love, but she also featured in volleyball and basketball during her school years. Sports, she says, was simply a way of life not just for her.
“It runs through the family. All my siblings are into sports,” she stated.
“I was involved in almost every sport in school, football, volleyball, netball, hockey; I did everything,” she recalls.
Her academic background in Health, Physical Education and Recreation laid a solid foundation for her sporting career. While on scholarship at the university (University of Cape Coast), she often used her modest budget to support young athletes, sometimes sharing skills and even T-shirts at programmes she attended. Giving back, she explains, has always been part of her motivation.
However, as she matured as an athlete, Abigail made a critical self-assessment.
“Armwrestling involves a lot of strength,” she admits. “Looking at my body type, I realised I couldn’t fit properly as a competitive athlete.”
That moment of honesty pushed her to a different trajectory but equally important path in sports; which is officiating.
During her National Service, she was encouraged by Mr Charles Osei Asibey, the President of the Ghana Armwrestling Federation (GAF), to consider officiating. He introduced her to a technical official, Mr Hussein Akuerteh Addy, who formally took her through the basics of Armwrestling officiating in 2021.
“I started as a case official,” she says. “We moved from region to region every week, officiating competitions. That’s where it all began.”
By 2022, Abigail was actively involved in national assignments, though she missed the African Championship that year. Her breakthrough came in 2023, when Ghana hosted the African Armwrestling Championship.
It was her first experience officiating at a major international competition and it changed everything.
“That was my first national and international exposure at the same time,” she says. “It really opened my eyes.”
Today, Abigail is a World Junior Armwrestling Referee, a status earned through performance, consistency and discipline. She explains that progression in officiating was not automatic.
“It’s all about performance, your appearance at African Championships, your conduct, how you handle pressure; that’s what takes you to the world level,” she stressed.
As a referee, Abigail’s priority is safety and fairness. Armwrestling, she notes, comes with risks, particularly injuries to the wrists, elbows, shoulders and arms.
“If athletes don’t follow the rules or refuse to listen to officials, injuries can happen,” she explains, adding that focus was everything.
Before every match, she ensures that all equipment which includes elbow pads, hand pegs and table alignment were properly set. Athletes are not allowed to cover their elbows, must grip correctly, and must follow the referee’s commands precisely.
“We make sure everything is fixed before the grip,” she says. “Once we say ‘Ready… Go’, there should be no confusion.”
She is also firm on discipline. Warnings are issued for infractions, and repeated misconduct attracts penalties.
“The referee must be respected, if you don’t listen, the rules will deal with you,” she says.
Abigail credits her confidence partly to her sporting family background. Her mother was a volleyball player, while other family members also participated in sports. Though they were initially concerned about her safety, her rise to the top reassured them.
“They were afraid at first,” she admits. “But they were also very proud, especially because some of them never got the opportunity to reach this level.”
Looking ahead, Abigail is optimistic about the future of Armwrestling in Ghana. In less than a decade, the country has produced African and world-level medalists, a sign, she believes, of great things to come for Ghana.
“Whenever we go out, we come back with medals such as gold and silver,” she says, and to her that was a sign of growth.
In the next five to ten years, Abigail sees herself rising to become a World Master Referee, the highest officiating level in the sport. Until then, her routine remains intense, training four times a week, working closely with athletes, standing on her feet for hours, and constantly refining her understanding of the rules.
“I love this sport,” she says simply. “That love is what keeps me going.”
Abigail encouraged women to be bold and intentional about their place in sports saying “don’t limit yourself because of fear or stereotypes.”
She also urged women to invest in learning, discipline and consistency, stressing that respect was earned through performance.
For Abigail, as Ghana’s armwrestlers continue to make their mark, she will remain where she is most effective at the table, ensuring the game is played right.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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As he had promised Aperkeh, the elderly man and his wife and three daughters stopped by Aperkeh’s parents’ house. Mr Amando and his family were preparing to settle in for the night.
“Brother Ben and family”, Mr Joshua Amando said warmly, “although I know you are here on a matter that can hardly be described as joyous, it is still good to see you. You are welcome. Please sit down while I bring you water”.
“Yes, we will take water, even though we are hardly thirsty, because this is our home”.
“Okay, Ben”, he started after they had drank, “Let me go straight to the point. My daughter Priscilla has told me about the goings on between her brother Aperkeh and our daughter Stella.
Before informing me, Priscilla had expressed concern to Aperkeh about some habits he is adopting, especially the late nights and the drinking. She tells me that one Saturday morning, she was there when Stella complained about his drinking and some girls who had come to the house to look for him, and he assaulted her.
I called him and complained, but all he could say was that I don’t know what caused him to react that way, so I could not judge him. Now he does not answer my calls.
I have sent Priscilla to his house to call him, but he has refused to come. Unfortunately, Ben, my son is a much different person than the young boy who completed university and started work at the bank. I am really embarrassed about his treatment of Stella”.
“Joshua, let me assure you that even though what is happening is very unfortunate, it will not affect our relationship.
We have been friends since childhood, and I thought that with their parents’ blessing, the relationship between Aperkeh and Stella would grow to become a blessing to all of us. But there appears to be a real challenge now.
Stella thinks that Aperkeh wants her out of his house, and indeed Aperkeh himself told me that, about an hour ago.
So I’m taking my daughter home. I suggest that you do what you can to straighten him out, but if it does not work out, let’s accept the situation and continue to be one family.
I am sure that being the well behaved girl that she is, Stella will meet a young man who will cherish her. Fortunately, this problem is happening early in the day, so they can sort things out if possible, or move on with their lives if they are unable to stay together”.
“I’m really grateful for that, Ben. I will do my best in the next few days to reason with him, because apart from the relationship with Stella, Aperkeh is risking his job and career with this lifestyle.
A good job and salary offers an opportunity to gather momentum in life, not to destroy yourself”.
“Okay Brother Joshua. We will say goodnight. I hope to hear positive news from you”.
As he descended in the lift from the fourth to the ground floor, Aperkeh wondered who would be waiting at the reception to see him at nine on Monday morning. He had spent good time with both of his new girls during the weekend, so it had to be someone else. He got out of the lift and pulled a face when he saw Priscilla.
“Priscilla”, he said as he sat down by her, “what do you want here? You know Monday morning is a busy time at the bank. I am a very busy person, so say what you want, I have work to do”.
“You are very funny, Aperkeh. You are telling me, your sister, that you have work to do, so I should hurry up? Okay, Dad says I should advise you to come home tonight, because he wants to discuss the issue of Stella with you. He sent me to you twice, and you did not come.
He has tried to call you quite a number of times, but you have refused to answer his calls. He says that if you do not come tonight, you will be very surprised at what he will do. He says you will not like it at all, so better come.
“What is all this? Why won’t you people leave me alone? Stella is very disrespectful. I told her that if she wanted to continue to live in my house, she must obey me. It is that simple.
She chose to continue ordering me about, controlling me in my own house, so I told her that if she could not live under my conditions she should leave. And she left. In fact, her own father came and took her away. So what again?’’
“How did she disobey or control you? Was she complaining about your continuous drinking and late nights? And did you slap her on several occasions because of that? Did you tell her that if she could not live under your conditions she should leave? You actually said that to her father? You have forgotten that before she came to live with you, our two parents met and agreed, and gave it their blessing?’
“Why don’t you leave, Priscilla? I don’t have to listen to all that”. “Okay, I will go. Your father who gave birth to you and educated you to university level sends me to you, and you ask me to leave? I wish you would defy him, and refuse to come home as he’s telling you, because he is planning to give you the discipline you badly need. Let me tell you. Stella is such a beautiful and decent girl, and I assure you that someone will grab her before you say Jack. You are only 30 years old, and you have already become a drunkard”.
As he walked towards the lift, Aperkeh decided on what to do. He would go home, and calmly listen to what his father had to say. The old man was very unpredictable, and he wouldn’t dare ignore him. So he would take all the insults and threats, but as for Stella she was history. According to Priscilla, Stella was beautiful and all that, but she had not seen the two curvaceous princesses who were all over him, ready to do anything he asked. And these were not barely literate waakye girls, but university graduates from wealthy homes, really classy girls. With stuff like that, who needs a waakye girl? He smiled as he took his seat.
A few minutes to five, Aperkeh was packing up to leave for home to meet his dad when his phone rang. It was Priscilla.
“Aperkeh, Dad says you don’t need to bother to come. Stella’s dad says she came to him early this morning to plead that she would rather stay at home than return to your house. She thinks you are already decided to be rid of her, and she does not want to risk being assaulted again. So it’s done. You can go ahead and enjoy the nice life you have started”.
Before he could tell her to go to hell, Priscilla hanged up the line. He was partially stung that his dad had virtually cut him off. The last thing anyone would want was to fall out of relationship with his own family, which had always supported him.
But the truth was he was no longer interested in Stella. What was wrong with going by one’s feelings? He could only hope that one day, his parents and sister would try to reason with him.
By Ekow de Heer
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