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President John Dramani Mahama has reiterated that taxpayers’ money should not be used to construct the National Cathedral, maintaining that Ghana’s Christian community is fully capable of mobilizing the required funds independently.
Speaking during a citizens’ engagement in the Upper West Region, Mahama clarified that while he supports the concept of a national cathedral as a Christian himself, public funds should remain strictly off-limits. He noted that if the country’s vast Christian population contributed individually, the project could easily be self-funded without burdening state resources.
Beyond financing, Mahama highlighted severe spatial concerns regarding the cathedral’s site, arguing that placing it alongside Parliament, Ridge Hospital, the National Theatre, and the Accra International Conference Centre severely overburdens local infrastructure and traffic flow.
Addressing accountability, Mahama revealed that a forensic audit examining the estimated $90 million spent on the stalled project is complete and currently with the Attorney General. He pledged to share these audit findings with the Christian Council to ensure transparency and guide corrective action.
Mahama also distinguished the Cathedral from standard state initiatives, emphasizing that the project was a personal pledge made by former President Nana Akufo-Addo to God, rather than an official national policy.
His remarks come as the Christian Council of Ghana establishes a technical committee to explore practical, church-led funding models and re-evaluate the project’s location, with final recommendations expected within a month.