The Christian Council of Ghana has thrown its weight behind completing the controversial National Cathedral, but with one non-negotiable condition: full, daylight transparency on every cedi spent so far and every cedi yet to be raised.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, General Secretary Rev. Dr. Samuel Ayetey made the Council’s position crystal clear:
“The National Cathedral remains a powerful symbol of our faith and national unity.
We want it built, but not on the back of unanswered questions.
Let the forensic audit be completed urgently, published unedited, and let every Ghanaian see exactly where the money went.”
Rev. Ayetey stressed that the cathedral should be a national centre for worship, reflection, reconciliation, and tourism, not a monument to opacity.
The Numbers That Still Haunt the Project
Announced in 2018 as 100% privately funded
Over GH¢2.4 billion of public funds spent by 2024
Current state: a giant excavated pit in the heart of Accra
Original completion target: March 2024 → now indefinite
President Mahama froze all state funding in January 2025 and referred the matter to CHRAJ for a comprehensive forensic audit. Ten months later, Ghanaians are still waiting for the final report.
The Christian Council’s New Proposal
Immediate publication of the CHRAJ audit
Independent, church-led fundraising and oversight body
Direct involvement of all major Christian denominations in governance
No further public funds until every past transaction is accounted for
Option to downscale or repurpose the project if costs remain prohibitive
“Let the churches raise the money and supervise the work,” Rev. Ayetey said. “That way, no future government can weaponise the cathedral for political gain.”
Government Response: Cautious Neutrality
Minister for Youth and Mission Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah welcomed the Council’s intervention but stopped short of new commitments:
“We respect the voice of the church. The audit will determine the way forward. Whatever decision is taken will be in the best interest of Ghana.”
Insiders say options now on the table include:
Completing a scaled-down cathedral with private/church funding
Transforming the site into a multi-faith National Prayer & Reconciliation Centre
Converting it into a broader cultural/tourism complex with a chapel
As Ghana races to implement high-stakes initiatives like the $20-billion Labour Export Programme, the National Cathedral saga remains a stubborn reminder of past excesses.
One thing is certain: until the audit sees daylight, the pit in the heart of Accra will continue to symbolise far more than unfinished concrete
