President John Dramani Mahama has officially ordered the dissolution of the Board of Trustees overseeing the National Cathedral of Ghana and the permanent closure of its Secretariat, citing explosive findings uncovered in a government-commissioned audit of the controversial project.
The decision, which signals a decisive break from one of the flagship initiatives of the previous Akufo-Addo administration, was announced by Government Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu during a press briefing at the Jubilee House on Friday, July 18.
According to Kwakye Ofosu, the Secretariat—previously operating from the Office of the President—was formally dissolved on May 1, 2025, following an internal review of the project’s finances and operations.
“The above audit findings rock the very foundation of the project and the work of the Secretariat and raise serious questions about the use of public funds,” he declared.
The move follows revelations from a detailed audit report that exposed financial irregularities and mismanagement in the execution of the project, which was initially intended to serve as a national symbol of faith, unity, and cultural identity. Originally launched in 2017 by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the National Cathedral was envisioned to include a Bible museum, a biblical garden, a 5,000-seater sanctuary, and other features to promote religious tourism.
However, the project quickly became mired in controversy over questions surrounding its legal status, accountability, ballooning costs, and its reliance on public funding despite earlier claims that it would be financed through private donations.
“The National Cathedral Ghana was registered limited by guarantee. In view of that, the Attorney General has been directed to take legal steps… and we expect that to be done in the coming days,” Kwakye Ofosu added, hinting at legal proceedings aimed at dissolving the corporate entity behind the project.
The President’s directive is the most decisive action yet taken on the stalled cathedral, and it comes amid mounting public pressure and calls for accountability. It also follows confirmation of a GHS 4.9 million payment discrepancy between government records and receipts declared by Sir David Adjaye & Associates Ltd., the architectural firm contracted to design the project.
The Mahama administration has also tasked the Attorney-General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, to conduct a forensic audit of the Secretariat’s operations and oversee the legal termination of contracts associated with the project to prevent further financial losses to the state.
The dissolution of the Secretariat and the Board marks a significant shift in government posture—moving away from what was once touted as a national legacy project to what critics now label a cautionary tale of unchecked ambition, poor oversight, and financial opacity.
