Dr. Bawumia greeting the clergy at the service on Sunday
Vice President Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia says it will be in the greater interest of the country if the National Cathedral is constructed.
“As you all know, there are efforts to build a National Cathedral. It is very important that we build the Cathedral. It is a voluntary exercise; anybody who wants to contribute can contribute. I have contributed, and I will contribute some more. So, I encourage everybody to think about it and let’s build it. It is not for anybody. It is for Ghana and for the glory of God,” the Vice President who is a devout Muslim, said on Sunday in Accra.
He made the profound statement when he joined the Adabraka Official Town branch of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana to celebrate the 30th anniversary and ordination service of Rev. Kwadwo Owusu-Sarpong.
The Vice President said that “Ghana is Africa’s second most peaceful country, with adherents of many religions living and working together to build the nation. The construction of the Cathedral would add further to our enviable record of peaceful co-existence,” he stated.
Christians Effort
He called on the Christian leaders to continue to let their pulpits become the platforms for preaching peace and unity as they have done all the time.
“I wish to urge the leadership of all religious bodies to use the pulpit to propagate the message of peace and unity to stress the need to maintain the oneness and peace the nation continues to enjoy despite our challenges.
“Christians owe it as a duty to uplift the sense of responsibility in the country as well as help fight pockets of corruption and impunity. Sincere Christians can do this by strengthening democracy and speaking out. May we continue to live in peace and harmony as one people with a common destiny. Certainly, we have no other nation but Ghana, so let’s protect it,” he reiterated.
Presby Effect
The Vice President hailed the contributions of faith-based organisations in nation building and had special words of praise for the Presbyterian Church of Ghana.
“Over the years, the Presbyterian Church of Ghana has partnered succeeding governments to move the development agenda forward. The government recognises the immense contribution of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana towards the growth of the nation, particularly in the provision of basic, secondary and tertiary education, healthcare, agricultural services and other social interventions throughout the length and breadth of this country,” he indicated.
“The Presbyterian Church of Ghana, according to the Ghana Health Service, is the third largest provider of health services in Ghana at the moment. We all doff our hats to the Presbyterian Church of Ghana for all these immense social service interventions towards national development.
“Without doubt, the Government alone cannot shoulder the responsibility of developing our dear nation. May I hereby seize this opportunity to encourage the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, the entire Christian Community and indeed other faith-based organisations, to continue partnering the Government in its developmental efforts! Please be assured that we shall continue to provide the enabling environment for such fruitful partnership to materialize,” he added.
Speaking on the theme for the event, “Celebrating the Favour of God”, Dr. Bawumia commended Rev. Kwadwo Owusu-Sarpong for his three decades of service to the Church and Ghana, indicating that despite his difficult beginning, “God had a plan for you and His favour has indeed reflected in your life.
“I implore you to let your voice be heard in the national discourse; the nation needs independent voices like yours. Be assured that you are on the side of God and that He will keep and watch over you.
“As you serve Mother Ghana and the Church, commit yourself to the tenets of the Church and the constitution of Ghana. As 1 Timothy 4:15 admonishes, ‘Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress’.”