The government has announced concrete steps to dissolve the Board of Trustees overseeing the National Cathedral project, following revelations of serious financial and governance irregularities.
At a press briefing at the Jubilee House on Friday, Government Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu revealed that President John Mahama had already dissolved the National Cathedral Secretariat effective May 1, 2025. Legal processes are now underway to formally dissolve the Board of Trustees.
“These findings rock the very foundation of the project and the work of the Secretariat,” Mr. Kwakye Ofosu said, referencing the recent Deloitte and Touche audit report which uncovered procurement breaches, unsupported expenditures, contract discrepancies, and questionable payments to foreign consultants and contractors.
The audit, which reviewed the Secretariat’s operations from December 31, 2021, to December 31, 2023, showed that total payments and financial commitments to date amount to $97 million—well beyond previously reported figures. Of this, $39 million remains unpaid to the main contractor, despite construction having stalled for years.
Mr. Kwakye Ofosu explained that while the Deloitte audit sheds light on major lapses, it does not capture the full extent of the Secretariat’s operations or the project's total financial impact. As a result, the Auditor-General has been directed to conduct a forensic audit to further investigate the matter.
He also confirmed that the Attorney-General has been tasked with initiating steps to terminate the project contract to prevent additional financial losses to the state.
“After the forensic audit, decisive action will be taken regarding any impropriety determined and the future of the project itself,” he added.
