Mr Charles Owusu Juanah, lead counsel for the National Cathedral Secretariat, has refuted claims about the National Cathedral project, calling them misleading and a misrepresentation of the facts.
Mr Juanah argued that, contrary to public claims of the site being a pond or “the most expensive hole in the world,” extensive work has been done to establish the foundation before the project can take off.
Speaking on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, he revealed, “The claims that the area is a pond are not only misleading but a misrepresentation of the facts. The work they have done is expensive. For example, if you want to construct a cathedral, you would have to contract an architect, a structural engineer, a quantity surveyor, and other professionals to work on the project because this is a very sophisticated construction. The Nehemiah Group, for example, was contracted to establish the Bible Museum. Other persons have all been contracted to make sure that the base of the thing was set properly before the take-off.”
He told host Kwabena Agyapong that they have sunk approximately 25 meters of concrete and steel into the ground.
“We have sunk about 25 meters of concrete and steel into the ground, and we are currently at the level of raising the walls. Some will claim that the area is now a pond, but that is a palpable falsehood. We have done all the necessary base work to support the foundation of the cathedral project.”
He stated that the government has done its part by establishing the secretariat and other related activities and that the most important thing is for the board to be allowed to continue with its mandate to see to the construction of the project.
“Our appeal would be that the government should exercise restraint and give us the needed support in seeing to the completion of the project which has significant financial value for the country,” he said.
He confirmed that about 8% of the project has been built, with the walls expected to be raised for the construction to continue.
“So there is misunderstanding, and all those who are criticizing the project lack an understanding of the issues. I will encourage them to make time and go to the project site and conduct their own investigations and will come to the conclusion that a lot has been done,” he added.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana