The Christian Council of Ghana has called on President John Dramani Mahama to ensure the continuation and completion of the National Cathedral project, describing it as a “unifying symbol of faith” and an important national asset.
The appeal was made by the Vice Chairman of the Council, Rev. Enoch Nii Narh Thompson, during a courtesy call on the President at the Jubilee House.
Rev. Thompson said the Council “continues to affirm its belief in the vision and necessity of the National Cathedral as a unifying symbol of faith, gratitude to God, and moral renewal for our nation.”
Acknowledging the nation’s economic challenges, he said the Council still believes the project can be completed “under a transparent, accountable and inclusive framework” to serve future generations.
He proposed three key recommendations to government:
- Reaffirm its commitment to the continuation and completion of the cathedral.
- Ensure transparency in the project’s financial administration and develop a broad-based funding structure involving churches, the private sector and international partners to ease pressure on the state.
- Position the cathedral as an interdenominational national project that fosters unity among Ghanaians.
President Mahama Responds
President Mahama welcomed the Council’s concerns but stressed the need for a clear understanding of the project’s past financial dealings before any decisions are made.
He revealed that although the Board of Trustees had already commissioned an audit, his administration had ordered a forensic audit to provide a more detailed picture.
“We must know what happened before we go forward,” he said. “We are waiting for the report. Once it is done, we can decide the way forward.”
The President affirmed his personal support for building places of worship, citing his own contributions to church projects, including rural church buildings for the Assemblies of God.
“I do believe in building a place where we can worship,” he said. “But it must be done in consultation with all of us—what the scope is and how much it should cost.”
He questioned the previous estimated cost of $400 million, calling it “excessive,” and compared it to a similar worship centre in Nigeria that cost about $40 million.
“Maybe some of the things are excessive,” he said, suggesting the need for a more modest and nationally agreeable design.
President Mahama said that after the forensic audit, he intends to hold broad-based consultations with the Christian community to determine the best way to develop “a decent place where we can worship” and a centre that reflects Ghana’s Christian heritage.
He emphasised that any future development of the cathedral must be a collective national decision.
By Ebenezer Madugu
