President John Mahama has reaffirmed his position that taxpayer money should not be used to fund the construction of a National Cathedral, insisting instead that Ghana’s Christian community should mobilise the resources to build the facility themselves. He also sharply criticised the project’s location and the destruction caused to make way for it, and disclosed that a forensic audit into the project’s expenditure has been completed.
‘Christians Can Fund It Themselves’
Speaking at a citizens’ engagement during his tour of the Upper West Region, Mahama said that while he has nothing against the idea of a National Cathedral, he remains firmly opposed to financing it with public funds.
“My second problem was that we shouldn’t use taxpayers’ money,” he said.
He argued that Ghana’s large Christian population should be able to raise the needed funds through its various groups. “I mean, how many Christians are in this country? If we all pay 1,000 cedis each, we should be able to construct a national cathedral,” he said.
Location ‘Has Always Been a Problem’
The President reiterated his long-standing concern about the cathedral’s proposed location, noting that the area already hosts several major public institutions and facilities, including Parliament, the International Conference Centre, the Greater Accra Regional Hospital and the National Theatre.
“My principle has always been that the location has been a problem,” Mahama said. He explained that the area is already close to the stadium and the route used to access Black Star Square, warning that adding another major structure would “constrict that whole area.”
Demolition of Judges’ Residences, Malian Ambassador’s Home
Mahama also criticised the scale of demolition carried out to clear the site. He listed several properties that were destroyed, including ten judges’ residences, the residence of the Malian Ambassador, and the old passport office.
“My problem was also that the amount of destruction we had to cause to clear the area; broke 10 judges’ residences,” he said. “We broke the Malian Ambassador’s residence. Up to now, we’ve not replaced it. And several other properties, the old passport office, all of them were demolished to make way for a national cathedral.”
According to previously published reports, other demolished structures included the Judicial Training Institute, the Scholarships Secretariat, and the residence of a CHRAJ deputy commissioner.
Forensic Audit Ready, to Be Shared With Christian Council
The President disclosed that a forensic audit into the National Cathedral project has been completed and is currently with the Attorney General. He said a copy would be made available to the Christian Council of Ghana so it can examine how the funds — which he put at almost $90 million — were spent.
“The forensic audit is ready; it’s with the Attorney General, and I’ll make a copy of it available to the Christian Council so that they can look at the processes of what went into the expenditure of the 90 million dollars, so that if there’s any corrective action, we can take it together,” he said.
The figure cited by Mahama is significantly higher than earlier official estimates. In July 2025, Minister of Communication Felix Kwakye Ofosu stated that the project’s total cost had reached $97 million — including $39 million owed to contractors — and that all that had been achieved on site was a “hole.”
‘A Personal Pledge, Not National Policy’
Mahama drew a distinction between the National Cathedral and other inherited projects, saying he has committed to continuing projects and policies from the previous administration where they serve the public interest — but that the cathedral is different.
“The only one is the National Cathedral, but that was not a national policy. It was a personal pledge by the former president. It was a personal pledge by the former president to God. So that one, it wasn’t national policy,” he said.
The project was initiated by former President Nana Akufo-Addo, who framed it as a pledge of gratitude to God following his 2016 election victory. In 2023, Akufo-Addo reaffirmed his commitment to the project, describing it as one that would “honour God and bless our nation.”
Christian Council Constitutes Technical Committee
The President’s remarks came a day after the Christian Council of Ghana announced on Friday, September 11, 2026, that it has constituted a technical committee comprising representatives from various Christian groupings to explore ways of reviving the stalled project.
According to the Council’s Chairman, Reverend Enoch Nyarko Nii Nai Thompson, the committee has been given one month to develop a practical funding model for the project and make recommendations on its proposed location and other outstanding matters.
The committee’s recommendations will first be submitted to the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, before being forwarded to President Mahama for a final decision.
Reverend Thompson expressed hope that the process would bring closure to the long-running controversy. “It is our hope and belief that these efforts will help bring a conclusion to this matter that has hung over our national political life,” he said.
