President John Dramani Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has directed the dissolution of the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral of Ghana and shut down its Secretariat, following what government officials have described as grave audit revelations concerning the project’s financial and operational conduct.
At a press briefing on Friday, July 18, 2025, the Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu disclosed that the Secretariat, which had been operating from the Jubilee House, was officially dissolved as of May 1, 2025.
“The audit findings rock the very foundation of the project and the work of the Secretariat. They raise serious concerns about the use of public funds and cast a shadow over the integrity of the entire endeavour,” Mr. Kwakye Ofosu stated.
According to him, the audit unearthed troubling details that have made it untenable for the government to continue supporting the operations of the Secretariat or to retain the board that oversaw it.
He noted that the audit, which covered the Secretariat’s operations from December 31, 2021 to December 31, 2023, revealed that total payments and commitments related to the project stand at $97 million, far exceeding earlier public estimates.
He said of this, $39 million remains outstanding to the contractor, despite work having stalled at the site for years.
Mr. Kwakye Ofosu emphasised that while the Deloitte audit exposes “deep cracks,” it does not cover the full scope of the Secretariat’s operations or the entire project. Consequently, the Auditor-General has been tasked with conducting a forensic audit to further probe the project and uncover any additional improprieties.
The National Cathedral project, once touted as a symbol of national unity and religious significance, was registered as a company limited by guarantee. However, its legal and corporate structure, according to the presidency, has only added to the complexity of oversight and accountability.
In light of this, the Attorney General has been instructed to take immediate legal action to effect the full dissolution of the entity behind the project, the Minister noted.
“The National Cathedral Ghana was registered as a company limited by guarantee. In view of that, the Attorney General has been directed to initiate the necessary legal processes to ensure the company’s dissolution,” Kwakye Ofosu reiterated.
According to him, the Attorney General is also working on terminating the project’s contract to halt further financial losses to the state.
“After the forensic audit, decisive action will be taken regarding any impropriety determined and the future of the project itself,” he said.
By Ernest Kofi Adu