Government Spends Over GH¢339 Million on National Cathedral Since 2020

The government has invested over GH¢339 million in the National Cathedral project, which has faced significant delays.

This considerable spending was verified in Parliament on Wednesday, July 3, by Abena Osei Asare, Minister of State at the Finance Ministry.

She addressed an urgent question posed by Deputy Majority Leader Patricia Appiagyei, who sought detailed information on the funds allocated to and expended on the controversial project.

The Deputy Finance Minister also mentioned that the National Cathedral’s finances are currently undergoing an audit.

“To date, the total government disbursements for the National Cathedral stand at GH¢339 million. This amount includes GH¢225 million given to the National Cathedral Secretariat and GH¢113 million paid directly to the project consultant.

“A value-for-money audit was conducted on the project in 2021. Additionally, a statutory audit of the National Cathedral of Ghana accounts by Deloitte Ghana began in July 2023 and is ongoing.

“Auditors have completed the audit of the 18-month account ending December 31, 2020. Preparations are underway for auditors to finalize the accounts for the periods ending December 31, 2021, 2022, and 2023.”

Since its inception in 2020, the National Cathedral project has been mired in controversy. Its construction has incited debates across various societal sectors, with discussions focusing on the necessity and timing of such an ambitious structure, as well as the transparency and management of the allocated funds.