The government of Ghana has announced that it will not spend any further funds on the National Cathedral project. Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, made this statement at a press briefing at the Jubilee House in Accra on October 5, 2026. This decision aligns with President John Dramani Mahama's stance that the state can no longer finance the project, which had been abandoned before the current government took office in January 2025.
The Board of Trustees established to oversee the construction of the National Cathedral has been dissolved. According to Minister Ayariga, the board is no longer relevant as an agency of government since no public funds will be allocated to the project. The contractor responsible for the construction has been directed to formally hand over the site to the ministry. The ministry will maintain control of the site until a decision is made on the project's future.
The National Cathedral project was initiated by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as a major national religious infrastructure project with state support for its construction. However, the project's financing, expenditure, and progress have been subjects of significant public debate. President Mahama has consistently maintained that the construction should not rely on public funds, suggesting that interested churches and religious bodies could raise the necessary funds to complete the project.
Minister Ayariga emphasized that the government's decision to withdraw from the project does not imply abandonment. Instead, the next steps will be determined by the Attorney-General's review of a forensic audit into spending on the project under the past administration. The forensic audit aims to provide clarity on the project's financial status and inform future decisions.
The government's withdrawal from the National Cathedral project has significant implications for the project's future. With no public funds allocated, the project's completion relies on private funding from interested stakeholders. The dissolution of the Board of Trustees and the handover of the site to the ministry ensure that the government maintains control over the project's assets.
The Attorney-General's review of the forensic audit is expected to provide critical insights into the project's financial management under the previous administration. This review will inform the government's next steps and potentially determine the project's future. Minister Ayariga assured that the government will follow due process in handling the project.
The National Cathedral project's fate remains uncertain, with various stakeholders awaiting the outcome of the Attorney-General's review. The government's decision to withdraw funding has sparked discussions on the role of the state in financing national projects and the involvement of private stakeholders in such initiatives. The project's future will likely be shaped by the findings of the forensic audit and the advice of the Attorney-General.
Key points
- The Ghanaian government has withdrawn from funding the National Cathedral project, citing a review of a forensic audit to determine next steps.
- The Board of Trustees overseeing the project has been dissolved, and the contractor has been directed to hand over the site to the ministry.
- The project's future relies on private funding from interested stakeholders, with the government's next steps to be determined by the Attorney-General's review of the forensic audit.
