President John Dramani Mahama has called for a broader consultation with the Christian community to decide the fate of the infamous National Cathedral project.
The project, conceived by former President William Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as a personal promise to God, has cost the nation US$97 million, yet remains incomplete with only a foundation hole.
The issue has sparked intense debate, prompting a forensic audit directed by the President, following the US$97 million expenditure on the project with little to show for it.
The previous administration had budgeted a staggering US$400 million to complete the project. However, President Mahama believes the amount is woefully excessive, given the nation’s current economic challenges.
During a courtesy call by the Christian Council of Ghana at the Jubilee House on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, President Mahama emphasised that the ongoing forensic audit by the Auditor General must be completed before deciding on the project’s future.
This was after the Council had called on him to ensure the project is completed. Mahama noted that Nigeria built a similar interdenominational worship space for 10% of Ghana’s projected completion cost.
President Mahama says although he supports the building of a place of worship for all Christians in the country, he believes the current cost is unjustifiable.
“I do believe in building an inter-denominational place where we can worship, but it must be done in consultation with all of us,” he said.
“All of us must decide how we want to do it, what the scope is, and how much it should cost”
He questioned the wisdom of spending US$400 million on a cathedral amidst pressing national problems, citing Nigeria’s ecumenical centre, built with US$40 million, as a more prudent example.
“I believe that at this time and age, with all the problems we have, US$400 million to build a cathedral is excessive. I know Nigeria have built an ecumenical centre, and I’ve been there, it’s a decent beautiful place and they built it with US$40 million. And so, maybe, some of the things are excessive,” the President noted.
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