National Cathedral Fundraising Dinner: A table for $10,000; chair, $1,000 – Duncan-Williams

A fundraising dinner for the proposed national cathedral has been scheduled for 28 December 2018, and, according to Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, Chairman of the Fundraising Committee of the 13-member National Cathedral Board of Trustees, a table at the dinner will cost $10,000 while a chair will cost $1,000.

“… Everybody, buy a ticket for the fundraising dinner”, the Founder of Action Chapel International (ACI) announced to his congregation in Accra on Sunday, 16 December 2018, after taking his time to explain to the church, why he opted to be part of the project.

“It’s 28th of December and we are selling a chair for $1,000, a table for $10,000”, Archbishop Duncan-Williams announced.

“I need some of your secret monies”, he implored the congregation, adding: “… Some of you, your savings, you are going to Dubai and Europe for [holidays]. Give us that money to build the national cathedral. One day, you and your loved ones and your children’s children may use there. One day one of your sons or daughters will be president of Ghana and shall benefit from that thing”.

The board is chaired by a former Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of Ghana, the Most Rev. Samuel Asante Antwi, with the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, the Most Rev. Charles Palmer Buckle, as Vice-Chairperson, and the Founder and General Overseer of Power Chapel Worldwide, Prophet Kusi Boateng, as Secretary.

The other members are the Chairman of the Church of Pentecost and President of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, Apostle Dr Opoku Onyinah; the Founder of Salt and Light Ministries, Rev. Joyce Aryee; the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Right Rev. Prof. Cephas Omenyo; the Archbishop of the Church of the Province of West Africa and Bishop of Accra, the Most Rev. Dr Justice Offei Akrofi; the Founder of Action Chapel International, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams; the Founder and President of Fountain Gate Chapel, Rev. Eastwood Anaba; the Founder and Presiding Bishop of the Lighthouse Chapel International, Bishop Dag Heward Mills; the Founder of the International Central Gospel Church, Pastor Mensa Otabil, and Rev. Dr Yaw Frimpong Manso and Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey, both former Moderators of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana.

President Nana Akufo-Addo, on Tuesday, 6 March 2018 unveiled the design for the national cathedral at a brief ceremony at the Accra International Conference Centre.

It would house impressive chapels and baptistery, a 5,000-capacity auditorium, grand central hall, music school, choir rehearsal and multi-use spaces, an art gallery and a shop. It will also have a bible museum.

The president said the edifice was going to be an iconic centre for thanksgiving and to worship God for His mercies. He called for all to find space to support the construction of the project.

Making that a reality, however, requires the pulling down of some state institutions including bungalows which housed nine justices of the high court as well as a few other structures.