Ghana’s new President, John Mahama, has announced plans to investigate the controversial $400 million National Cathedral project started by his predecessor, Nana Akufo-Addo.
The cathedral, envisioned by Akufo-Addo as a tribute to God for his 2016 election victory, has become a symbol of fiscal mismanagement, with allegations of financial impropriety and misuse of public funds sparking public outrage.
Although initially billed as a privately funded initiative, reports revealed that $58 million of public funds were used for the project. Ghana’s Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice had earlier recommended an audit, citing breaches in procurement processes.
“We will soon activate such an investigation,” Mahama said during a thanksgiving service. While he did not dismiss completing the project, he hinted at adopting a more modest approach, saying, “Any decisions moving forward will prioritise accountability and national interest.”
Construction of the cathedral, planned to include a 5,000-seat auditorium, chapels, a choir school, and multipurpose spaces, has been stalled for three years. The site remains an abandoned crater in Accra, symbolising what critics call poor governance and misplaced priorities.
“This cathedral represents everything wrong with governance—opaque processes, lack of accountability, and misplaced priorities,” said Emmanuel Wilson Jnr, a campaigner with Crusaders Against Corruption.
The suspension of the project coincides with Ghana’s economic crisis, marked by high inflation, growing debt, and dependence on a $3 billion IMF bailout.
New Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson told Parliament, “The government cannot justify pouring scarce resources into an unfinished project when Ghanaians are struggling to afford basic necessities.”
Contractors have abandoned the site due to unpaid invoices, and several trustees have resigned from the project’s board, further eroding public confidence.
Mahama’s decision to probe the project has been met with mixed reactions.
“Investigating this project isn’t just about the money; it’s about restoring public trust in government,” Wilson Jnr emphasized.
Political scientist Kwame Asah-Asante noted, “This investigation could set a precedent for holding leaders accountable, but it also risks becoming a political weapon if not handled transparently.”
With over 70% of Ghanaians identifying as Christian, the National Cathedral holds religious significance. However, public frustration over economic hardships and governance failures has cast doubts on the project’s future.
“When people are struggling to feed their families, such extravagance becomes indefensible,” Asah-Asante added.
As the government grapples with fiscal challenges, the investigation could determine whether the cathedral will be completed or abandoned altogether.
