The recently refurbished gardens of the cemetery of Osu, a busy neighborhood east of the central district of Accra, is the site of the project for the new National Cathedral of Ghana. It will complete a ceremonial and scenic route through Osu Cemetery, Independence Square, the State House, and Africa Unity Circle. The scheme for the religious complex features a large central hall for worship, several chapels for prayer, a baptistry, an auditorium, and several multipurpose spaces, not to mention Africa’s first Bible Museum and Documentation Center, dedicated to Christianity and nation-building in Ghana, and other complementary programs including an art gallery and a music school.

The new building endeavors to establish a landmark where religion, democracy, and tradition are symbolically intertwined, and the faithful are given a place for inspiration, reflection, and shared devotion. With this in mind, the various formal decisions seek to harmonize the African country’s rich traditions with deep-rooted Christian symbols, democratizing them so that they speak more directly to the people at large. The interiors, furnishing, and adornments are designed in collaboration with leading local artists...[+]