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President John Dramani Mahama says his administration will wait for the findings of an ongoing forensic audit into the National Cathedral project before determining the next steps, underscoring the need for transparency, national consensus, and a realistic cost structure.
The President made the remarks after receiving a delegation from the Christian Council of Ghana at the Jubilee House. The Council had called on the government to renew its commitment to completing the cathedral under a more accountable, broadly supported, and inclusive framework.
Led by Vice Chairman Rev. Enoch Thompson, the Council acknowledged the country’s economic difficulties but maintained that a well-managed and properly positioned cathedral could become a lasting spiritual, cultural, and national landmark.
The delegation proposed three key recommendations:
- That the government reaffirm its commitment to the project;
- That funding be expanded to include churches, the private sector, and international partners;
- And that the cathedral be firmly established as an interdenominational national symbol that unites Ghanaians.
Speaking at the meeting on Tuesday, November 18, President Mahama explained that although the National Cathedral’s Board of Trustees had previously commissioned and published a standard audit, the revelations from that report were concerning enough to warrant a deeper, independent forensic investigation.
“The board of trustees ordered an audit into the accounts of the National Cathedral. The audit was published and there were some issues that bubbled out of it,” he said.
“There are two kinds of audits. There is a normal audit where you choose your auditor. Then there is a forensic audit. We got a copy of the first audit, and as President I directed that a forensic audit be conducted. We want to know what happened, and so we are waiting for that report. Once the forensic audit is completed, we can decide on the way forward.”
President Mahama reaffirmed his belief in the importance of a national centre of worship but insisted that such an undertaking must be built on collective agreement, proper consultation, and full transparency.
“I am a Christian and believe that building a house where we can worship God is a good thing,” he said.
He recalled his own support for church-building initiatives, including raising funds for the Ringway Gospel Centre of the Assemblies of God and constructing 10 rural church temples.
However, he described the current projected cost of the cathedral as unrealistic and out of step with Ghana’s economic realities.
“At this time and age, with all the problems we have, $400 million to build a cathedral is excessive,” he noted.
President Mahama suggested that a more modest, dignified national worship centre—one suitable for events such as a national Day of Thanksgiving—might be a more appropriate approach.
He assured the Christian Council that once the forensic audit report is completed, his administration will consult widely with the Christian community and other stakeholders to determine how best to deliver an affordable, transparent, and nationally owned place of worship.
