News
Government To Convert National Cathedral Site Into National Cultural Convention Centre
The government has announced plans to convert the stalled National Cathedral project into a National Cultural Convention Centre (NCCC), positioning it as the flagship hub for Ghana’s burgeoning creative economy and cultural diplomacy efforts.
According to a policy document under the new 24-hour economy initiative for culture, creative arts and tourism dubbed “SH0W24”, the NCCC will be established in partnership with the AfCFTA Secretariat and is expected to become Africa’s leading venue for international exhibitions, film festivals, trade shows and summits.
The initiative, government says, will address a critical infrastructure gap while avoiding conflict with religious or national values.
“At the national level, a bold flagship intervention is proposed: converting the National Cathedral site into the National Cultural Convention Centre (NCCC), in partnership with the AfCFTA Secretariat. This venue will serve as Africa’s premier cultural diplomacy and creative economy forum, hosting international exhibitions, film festivals, trade shows, and summits-filling a critical infrastructure gap without conflicting with national values or faith institutions,” the document states.
The NCCC project forms part of a broader plan to revitalise the creative arts, culture and tourism sectors as pillars of economic transformation. It marks a significant shift in the use of the controversial cathedral site, which has faced public scrutiny over delays, cost overruns and its relevance.
Under SH0W24, the centre will serve as the crown jewel in Ghana’s creative economy infrastructure. It is projected to host large-scale events and exhibitions that will place Ghana firmly on the global cultural map.
Feasibility studies for SHOW24 are scheduled for Phase 1 of implementation (2025-2026), with full commissioning expected by Phase 3 (2028-2030).
Other actions included in the SHOW24 strategy are the establishment of a National Creators Academy to train youth in music, film, fashion, digital media, and cultural performance. The training will integrate modern tools like AI and virtual reality, as well as business and cultural literacy.
In addition, over 250 community centres are set to be built or refurbished nationwide under the 24H+ Community Centre Network. These will operate 24/7 and serve as venues for training, production, exhibitions, and performances, stimulating night-time economic activity and local creative industries.
To boost market access, the initiative will also introduce the Ghana Cultural Passport, a digital platform offering curated cultural experiences for tourists, especially those from the diaspora. Ghana’s embassies will be equipped to promote creative exports, while licensing and export support systems will connect local creatives to global distribution networks.
Financing support will be provided through the 24H+ Value Chain Financing Facility and a Technical Assistance Grant Facility, both aimed at sustaining creative entrepreneurs and enterprises.
The SH0W24 document highlights the enormous potential of the creative sector to drive employment, youth innovation and global cultural influence. However, it also acknowledges deep-rooted constraints, such as inadequate infrastructure and fragmented talent pipelines, which the new programme seeks to address systematically.
Phase 2 of the rollout (2026-2027) will see the operationalisation of the Ghana Cultural Passport, the launch of regional cultural programmes, and the establishment of creative districts across the country. By Phase 3, the focus will shift to export expansion and international partnerships.
With the proposed NCCC, the government hopes to reposition Ghana as a cultural powerhouse in Africa, transforming its creative assets into viable economic drivers while preserving and promoting its rich cultural identity.
The National Cathedral project, originally launched in 2018 as a symbol of national unity and religious faith, has been one of the most controversial public infrastructure projects in Ghana’s recent history. Intended to serve as a non-denominational Christian worship centre, the project was plagued by delays, lack of transparency, ballooning costs and public outcry over the use of state funds in a secular republic.
Despite initial assurances that it would be funded largely through private donations, millions of cedis in public funds were allocated without clear accountability, leading to calls from civil society groups, opposition parties, and even some clergy for a halt or complete review of the project.
Its conversion into the NCCC signals a major policy pivot, one that the government believes will transform the contested site into a space of inclusive national value.
myjoyonline.com
News
Police, Prisons, GNFS, Armed Forces To Benefit From New Housing Scheme
President John Dramani Mahama says the government has commissioned a Singaporean company to construct housing units for personnel of the security services, including the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Prisons Service, Ghana National Fire Service, and Ghana Armed Forces.
According to the President, the decision followed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during his visit to Singapore in 2025 to establish a prefabricated housing factory in Ghana to support large-scale infrastructure delivery.
He explained that the company’s first major project was the construction of a 10,000-bed hostel at the University of Ghana, but it has now been tasked to also deliver accommodation for the country’s security agencies.
“But we have also commissioned them to build housing for our Police Service, our Prisons, Fire Service and the Ghana Armed Forces,” President Mahama stated.
The President made the disclosure while addressing the Ghana Police Service end-of-year gathering, popularly known as the West African Soldiers Social Activity (WASSA), at the Police Headquarters in Accra.
He said the initiative, under the government’s Big Push Agenda, is expected to significantly improve accommodation conditions for the security services, and urged the Police Service to identify available lands within their barracks for the housing projects.
“Start identifying your lands in your various barracks where we will build this accommodation so that we can provide enough housing for our police service,” he added.
President Mahama described WASSA as more than a social event, noting that it provides an opportunity for reflection on service, sacrifice and the shared responsibility of safeguarding peace and stability in Ghana.
He commended the Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, the Police Management Board and personnel of the Ghana Police Service for what he described as their effective performance during the recent Christmas and New Year festivities.
According to the President, despite increased travel and social activities during the festive period, crime levels were kept low through careful planning, discipline and intelligence-led operations.
He also praised the strategic deployment of officers across highways, communities, markets, places of worship, transport terminals and entertainment centres, saying the visible police presence reassured the public.
President Mahama said he was encouraged by the speed and professionalism with which incidents were handled, noting that reports were promptly addressed, suspects swiftly apprehended and criminal activities disrupted.
“Let us sustain this momentum and send a clear message that there will be no hiding place for criminal elements,” he said.
He further described the revival of WASSA after a long break as symbolic, stressing that it highlights the need for institutions to periodically reflect, reassess and renew their commitment to duty.
The President said this year’s celebration, themed “Resetting the Police Service: Professionalism, Integrity and Building Public Trust,” reflects the evolving challenges of modern policing and the expectations of the Ghanaian public.
“There can be no meaningful development without security. Every trader, student, commuter and investor depends on a sense of safety,” he stated.
Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, said the 2025 WASSA event was organised to allow officers to briefly step away from their demanding schedules to appreciate one another and acknowledge their collective efforts.
Source: GNA
News
Hohoe: Mobile Money Vendor Commits Suicide
Information reaching us at AladdynKingMedia.com indicates that a mobile money (MoMo) vendor who lived in Torkoni/Blave in the Volta Region’s Hohoe Municipality committed suicide, shocking and depressing the locals.
On Thursday, January 8, 2026, at roughly 1800 hours, word of the occurrence spread.
The deceased, whose identity is yet unknown, also sold brushes, toothpaste, and sponges at the Hohoe major lorry station.
Mr. Derek Adzoe, Assembly Member for the Torkoni/Blave Electoral Area, stated that the deceased was a MoMo vendor who had been heard making phone calls earlier in the day.
He claimed that the communication implied that someone was requesting money from the deceased, who clarified that he would pay the sum using electronic cash (e-cash) or MoMo.
According to accounts, some people later went to the deceased’s home, knocked on his door, and threatened to denounce him to the police, Mr. Adzoe continued.
He claimed that the brother of the deceased described how the calls affected his sibling’s mood, but he did not reveal the problem.
Mr. Adzoe claims that the brother went to town and returned to find the door shut.
The deceased was discovered dead when the door was forced open following multiple failed phone attempts to contact them.
The police had taken the body to the mortuary for more examinations, according to Mr. Adzoe, who was on the scene.
News
Amend Scholarship Authority Act – NUGS Urges Parliament
The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has called on the government to urgently amend the Scholarship Authority Act to allow students to be directly represented on the Authority’s Governing Board.
In a statement issued on January 9, 2026, the student body said it was not satisfied with the Ministry of Education’s response to concerns raised about the board’s composition. NUGS said the current arrangement does not clearly protect the interests of students, who are the main beneficiaries of the Scholarship Authority.
NUGS explained that Ghana already has clear examples of student representation in education governance. It pointed to the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), where the law allows NUGS to nominate a student representative to serve on the board. According to the union, the same approach should have been used in the Scholarship Authority Act.
READ ALSO: Scholarship Board: We’ll Fight Until Students Get Representation – NUGS
The union also dismissed claims that it is represented through civil society organisations. NUGS stressed that it is not a civil society organisation but a recognised national student union with the mandate to speak for students across the country. It added that past NUGS leadership has openly rejected any attempt to classify the union under civil society groups.
NUGS said student representation on the Scholarship Authority board must be clearly stated in law and not assumed or implied. It argued that decisions taken by the Authority directly affect students and therefore require a guaranteed student voice, preferably through a NUGS-nominated representative.
The union therefore appealed to Parliament and the Ministry of Education to amend the law under a certificate of urgency. It believes this will remove uncertainty, build public trust, and bring the Scholarship Authority in line with accepted standards in Ghana’s education sector.
While maintaining a strong position, NUGS said it remains open to dialogue and cooperation. The union described its action as principled and focused on protecting the interests of Ghanaian students, not as an attack on any institution.


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