As Ghana’s National Cathedral remains mired in public debate, incoming Local Government and Religious Affairs Minister Mahama Ayariga has offered a measured take: the idea was never the problem, the rollout was.
Testifying before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Thursday, Ayariga acknowledged that Ghana’s religious fabric, woven with Christianity, Islam, and traditional beliefs, makes the notion of a national place of worship understandable.
He noted that the country is dotted with religious structures, making a cathedral a conceptually logical addition.
Yet he did not shy away from criticising how the project was handled in its earlier phases. Among his stated reservations was the site selected for the cathedral, which he suggested may not have been ideal.
Rather than call for its outright cancellation, Ayariga proposed a consultative path forward.
He said he would first seek the views of Christian leadership and then the President before committing to any course of action.
Crucially, he offered to personally lead fundraising efforts if the project is revived, a signal that he sees value in the vision, provided it is reset on sounder footing.
His remarks strike a middle ground in a debate that has polarised public opinion, offering a possible off-ramp from the project’s troubled legacy while keeping the door open for a renewed, more transparent effort.