The government has taken steps to assume control of the National Cathedral project site as the Attorney-General reviews a forensic audit into the project’s finances and operations.
The development follows President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to dissolve the Board of Trustees overseeing the stalled project. The trustees were directed to work with the project consultant to hand over the site to the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.
Local Government Minister Mahama Ayariga said the takeover would allow the government to determine the future direction of the project, which has remained incomplete amid prolonged concerns over financing, expenditure and management.
The forensic audit has become central to that process. President Mahama previously disclosed that the audit, covering expenditure of nearly $90 million on the project, had been completed and was with the Attorney-General.
The audit was commissioned after an earlier Deloitte review identified financial and procurement irregularities in the operations of the National Cathedral Secretariat. The government subsequently directed that a broader forensic examination be conducted to establish how funds allocated to the project were used.
The Attorney-General is expected to use the findings to guide further legal and administrative decisions concerning the project.
Meanwhile, the Christian Council of Ghana has established a technical committee to examine possible funding arrangements, the proposed location and other issues surrounding the cathedral’s future. The committee is expected to submit recommendations to the President.
