National Cathedral site now the world’s most expensive swimming pool – Ato Forson

The Minority Leader in Parliament, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has sharply criticized the stalled National Cathedral project, describing the construction site as the “world’s most expensive swimming pool.”

On Tuesday, September 17, Dr. Forson took to Twitter to voice his frustration regarding the slow progress of the National Cathedral project, which has been in development for several years with minimal visible progress.

Dr. Forson criticized the use of substantial public funds on the project, noting that the only visible feature at the site is a pit filled with water. He compared the site to an abandoned illegal mining area (galamsey), questioning the project’s management and the transparency of the financial expenditures.

Dr. Ato Forson highlighted that despite millions of dollars being allocated for excavation and construction, the National Cathedral project remains largely incomplete. He criticized the government for alleged mismanagement, revealing that around $58 million has been spent with minimal visible progress.

Dr. Forson noted that the incomplete National Cathedral site has been derisively dubbed a “swimming pool” by critics, reflecting widespread disappointment among Ghanaians. He urged the government to reassess its priorities, suggesting that funds would be better spent on critical sectors like healthcare, education, and infrastructure, which he argues would provide greater benefit to the nation compared to the stalled cathedral project.

“After breaking down newly-constructed residential buildings of judges, the Passport Office, private properties and claiming to have sunk over $58 million into a so called National Cathedral, demonstrators had unfettered access to the construction site for the very first time.”

“The expenditure of a $58 million National Cathedral is comparable to an abandoned galamsey site.

“The world’s most expensive hole had collected so much water that it is now the world’s most expensive swimming pool. Some of the demonstrators had fun swimming in it,” he posted.