The plan has drawn sharp public criticism but the president says it will be a significant tourist attraction and should go ahead. We asked two experts: Frederick Dayour heads his university’s department of tourism and hospitality where Francis Kofi Essel lectures in tourism. Essel is also a registered tour guide with intimate knowledge of Ghana’s religious sites and their tourism potential.
In Ghana, Christians constitute about 71.2% of the population followed by Muslims . Ghana is the third most Christian-dominated country in west Africa after Liberia and Cape Verde. There are also significant traditional worship sites. These include the Klikor shrine in the Volta region; Akonnedi shrine in the Eastern Region; and Tenzug shrine in the Upper East Region. Most of these sites endear themselves to domestic religious worshippers. The new cathedral, if completed, would complement the existing religious offerings. It could also have an appeal to international pilgrims.
Some politicians have also argued that siting the cathedral at its present location was reckless. The decision has resulted in the demolition of private and national assets. These include the scholarship secretariat, passport office, judicial training institute, residence of the Malian Ambassador, and offices of African Centre for Economic transformation.
What are the cathedral’s economic benefits? Tourism is an important contributor to the country’s gross domestic product . It’s currently the fourth highest foreign exchange earner for Ghana after cocoa, gold and oil and gas. Therefore, the construction of the cathedral and the ancillary services that will come with it are likely to create job opportunities and generate revenue for the country and service providers.
Indirectly, businesses that provide services along the value chain will also benefit economically. In short, the cathedral will emit many economic benefits to the government, operators, and employees.