National Cathedral Scandal Deepens As Forensic Audit Reports Over $97 Million Spent
Ghana’s National Cathedral, once hailed as a symbol of national unity and spiritual renewal, has unraveled into a full-blown scandal marked by financial mismanagement, opaque governance, and mounting public outrage.
Damian Owusu 
The grand vision of Ghana’s National Cathedral, once hailed as a symbol of national unity and spiritual renewal, has unraveled into a full-blown scandal marked by financial mismanagement, opaque governance, and mounting public outrage.
President John Dramani Mahama has ordered a forensic audit into the project, following revelations that the state has committed over $97 million to a stalled construction site.
A Deloitte & Touche audit commissioned by the National Cathedral Secretariat uncovered alarming discrepancies:
GH¢4.9 million payment gap to Sir David Adjaye & Associates Ltd. for design and mobilisation.
$523,000 paid to The Nehemiah Group after its contract expired.
GH¢293,000 in unaccounted expenses for a symposium hosted by the Biblical Museum of Africa.
Over GH¢38 million in unreconciled mobile money donations, raising questions about fundraising integrity.
Government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu described the findings as “rocking the very foundation of the project,” citing persistent breaches of procurement laws and inadequate financial controls.
Initially pitched as a privately funded initiative, the Cathedral’s financing has shifted dramatically. Of the $97 million now confirmed:
$58 million has already been disbursed.
$39 million remains owed to contractors despite halted construction.
This shift from voluntary contributions to taxpayer funding has fueled accusations of deception and misplaced priorities, especially amid Ghana’s ongoing economic challenges.
In response to the audit:
President Mahama dissolved the National Cathedral Secretariat effective May 1, 2025.
The Board of Trustees was disbanded, and staff salaries were halted.
The Attorney-General was instructed to terminate contracts and pursue legal action against those implicated.
A forensic audit has been commissioned to go beyond the scope of Deloitte’s financial review.
“For as long as he remains in office, President Mahama is unprepared to see even a pesewa of taxpayers’ money spent on this National Cathedral,” Kwakye Ofosu declared.
Paul Opoku-Mensah, Executive Director of the Secretariat, disputed the government’s interpretation of the audit. He claimed that all disbursements were based on valid contracts and actual work done, and that the audit found no theft. However, critics argue that the management letter—not the audit summary—contains the most damning evidence of mismanagement.
The scandal has reignited calls for accountability:
Opposition figures like Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa have accused former President Akufo-Addo of masterminding illegal withdrawals.
Civil society groups demand prosecutions and a clear decision on the project’s future.
Economic analysts warn that continued spending on the Cathedral could undermine public trust and fiscal discipline
The forensic audit is expected to:
Identify individuals responsible for financial breaches.
Determine the full scope of losses and liabilities.
Guide the government’s final decision: complete, repurpose, or abandon the project.
As Ghana watches closely, the National Cathedral saga stands as a cautionary tale of ambition unchecked by accountability—a “hole in the ground” that may yet become a symbol of reform.
