Dr. Joyce Aryee, a member of the National Cathedral’s board of trustees, has dismissed concerns over staff payments, including those of CEO Dr. Paul Opoku-Mensah, during the construction pause, calling them “ridiculous.”
Her comments come in response to growing public worries about the project’s stalled progress and its impact on staff salaries. Speaking on the sidelines of a symposium organized in collaboration with TD Jakes’ Divinity School on Monday, October 14, Dr. Aryee defended the continued payments, saying, “If a project is on hold, it doesn’t mean people are not working to keep it going. I’m surprised, I don’t even want to comment on it, as ridiculous as this. No, I won’t comment.”
She further challenged the rationale behind the concerns, questioning, “So you establish an organization, and because you don’t have money to continue a certain part of it, the whole organization should stop? Is that the logic? Answer it yourself.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Paul Opoku-Mensah, Executive Director of the National Cathedral, has addressed public misconceptions about the project, emphasizing that it is more than just a church. He pointed out its potential for revenue generation and as a platform to showcase Ghana’s rich cultural heritage to the world.
The National Cathedral project has faced significant opposition, with critics questioning the government’s involvement and raising concerns about financial transparency. However, Dr. Opoku-Mensah remains optimistic, particularly after the recent symposium with TD Jakes’ Divinity School, which sought to inform the public about the cathedral’s broader purpose.
The cathedral is envisioned not only as a religious space but also as a historic landmark. It will house Africa’s first Museum of the Bible, a collaboration with the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. Dr. Opoku-Mensah also explained the project’s larger vision, saying, “The symposium was conceived as the National Cathedral’s response to what we in Ghana perceive as initiatives to reconnect with the African diaspora through faith.”
This partnership aims to build a Pan-African community to address historical and contemporary issues while highlighting Africa’s contributions to theology. He added, “The National Cathedral is often misunderstood as just a physical church building, but it represents critical national, continental, and global conversations.”
He also praised TD Jakes’ Divinity School for engaging students across Africa as part of this educational initiative.