$58m spent on National Cathedral did not dig a hole in Ghana’s economy – Freddie Blay fires Bawumia

Freddie Blay, the former National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has responded to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. Dr. Bawumia is the former Vice President and 2024 NPP flagbearer. He criticized the Akufo-Addo government for spending $58 million on the National Cathedral.

Blay claimed that this spending did not harm Ghana’s economy. He argued that the National Cathedral project could have united people and attracted more funds than spent.

Blay dismissed the controversy over the cathedral as minor in relation to NPP's defeat. His comments followed Bawumia's remarks about how this spending contributed to their electoral loss.

During a Thank You tour in the Western Region, Bawumia expressed public anger over the cathedral's unfinished state after such a large expenditure. He stated, “The national cathedral we were not able to complete after $58 million caused a lot of rage.”

In an interview with Serwaa Amihere on GHONE TV, Blay said he supported the project. He believed it would be beneficial in time, despite public skepticism.

He compared it to when expensive oil was used to wash Jesus’ feet, noting that leaders sometimes make decisions others do not understand immediately.

Blay insisted that even if costs exceeded expectations, future governments might recognize its importance. He reiterated that while it may have been used against their party, it did not significantly impact Ghana’s economy.

The National Cathedral was proposed by former President Nana Akufo-Addo as a Christian worship center and symbol of Ghana’s religious heritage. It began in 2017 but faced controversy over its high costs and funding sources.

The project has been criticized for financial mismanagement and corruption allegations throughout its development.