Ghana: Mahama Seeks Probe into Ex-President’s National Cathedral Project

Former Ghanaian President John Mahama calls for an investigation into his predecessor’s controversial National Cathedral project, questioning transparency and financial accountability.

The newly elected President of Ghana, John Mahama, has announced plans to investigate the $400 million National Cathedral project initiated by his predecessor due to its controversial nature.

Critics pointed to the delayed religious landmark as an emblem of financial mismanagement.

remembers that Mahama and his National Democratic Congress (NDC) emerged victorious in the December election after voters removed President Nana Akufo-Addo and his ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), citing alleged economic mismanagement and high living costs.

It was learned that the National Cathedral, conceived by Akufo-Addo as a gesture of gratitude to God for his electoral win in 2016, was originally planned to be financed through private contributions.

However, there are claims that $58 million in public funds were spent and accusations of financial misconduct sparked public outrage.

Late last year, Ghana’s Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) recommended an audit of the project due to procurement violations.

“We will initiate this investigation shortly,” Mahama stated during a thanksgiving service earlier in the week.

Although he did not dismiss the possibility of completing the cathedral, he suggested a more restrained approach, emphasizing that any future decisions will focus on accountability and national interest.

According to OBASANJONEWS, the cathedral located on a 23,000 square meter site in central Accra features plans for a 5,000-seat auditorium, as well as chapels, a baptistery, a choir school, an art gallery and versatile spaces.

Nonetheless, three years after construction came to a halt, the site is still a vast crater.

Some suggested that the project played a role in Akufo-Addo and his NPP party’s electoral defeat in December.

The project’s suspension occurs amidst Ghana’s economic crisis, which has been worsened by soaring inflation, increasing debt levels, and dependence on a $3 billion IMF bailout to stabilize the economy.

The newly appointed Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson, recently informed Parliament that public funding for the cathedral has been suspended as part of a larger initiative to reduce unnecessary spending.

He stated, “The government cannot defend allocating limited resources to an incomplete project when Ghanaians are having difficulty affording basic necessities.”