The Ghanaian government has issued a 6-week ultimatum to the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral, requiring them to formally hand over the project site to the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs by October 31. This directive was contained in a letter dated September 18, signed by the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, acting on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama. The handover will enable the government to determine the future of the National Cathedral project.
The National Cathedral project, initially proposed under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's administration, aimed to create a monumental Christian worship centre in Ghana. However, the project has faced criticism and controversy, including concerns over spiralling costs and the use of public funds in a secular state. According to reports, a total amount of $58 million was spent on the project, making it Ghana's most expensive. The project has been stalled, and the government has dissolved the National Cathedral Secretariat, citing that it would no longer provide funding.
An independent audit of the National Cathedral project, conducted by Deloitte Touche, uncovered procurement breaches, unsupported expenditures, and governance lapses. The audit report, which covered activities from December 2021 to December 2023, revealed discrepancies in financial records, including a payment of 18,500 Ghana cedis for the expenses of one Kharis Psalmist, with only 4,976.00 Ghana Cedis recorded in the books. The report also stated that the total cost of the project could be as high as $97 million, including an outstanding $39 million owed to the contractor.
The audit findings have led to further action, with President John Dramani Mahama instructing the Attorney-General to initiate legal processes for the revocation of the board's mandate. The Board of Trustees is also set to be dissolved, as indicated by the same document ordering the October handover. The government has since announced plans to repurpose the stalled National Cathedral project into a National Cultural Convention Centre (NCCC), which will serve as a central hub for Ghana's creative economy and cultural diplomacy.
The proposed National Cultural Convention Centre (NCCC) will be developed with support from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and will host exhibitions, film festivals, trade expos, and major summits. The project, under the new "SH0W24" plan, part of the 24-hour economy for the creative sector, offers a smart solution to infrastructure challenges without clashing with religious or national values. The government believes this new project will fill a critical infrastructure gap and promote Ghana's creative economy.
The National Cathedral Secretariat's Executive Director, Dr Paul Opoku-Mensah, has disputed the audit findings, branding the report as false and incomplete. He stated that the audit report does not exonerate anyone but confirms that there has been no misuse of state funds. All payments made were supported by contracts and guided by legal and financial protocols, according to the memo. The Secretariat had previously faced criticism and controversy, including allegations of irregularities in the project's construction and operations.
The Ghanaian medical graduates in Cuba have appealed to the government for immediate evacuation amid multiple postponements. Meanwhile, the government's directive to the National Cathedral Board and the plans for the new National Cultural Convention Centre reflect the ongoing efforts to address controversy and find new uses for the stalled project. Key stakeholders will be watching closely as the situation unfolds.
Key points
- The Ghanaian government has given the National Cathedral Board a 6-week ultimatum to hand over the project site amid controversy and audit findings.
- The National Cathedral project has faced criticism over spiralling costs and the use of public funds in a secular state.
- The government plans to repurpose the stalled project into a National Cultural Convention Centre to promote Ghana's creative economy.
