The National Cathedral project is set to resume following the completion of the first audit report, according to a statement issued by the Chairman of the Board, Apostle Professor Opoku Onyinah.
Apostle Onyinah made the announcement after a September 20 meeting between the Board of Directors of the National Cathedral of Ghana and auditors from Deloitte, who were responsible for reviewing the project’s financial activities from its inception through to December 31, 2020.
The board authorized the audit in response to public concerns over allegations of corruption and questionable expenditures related to the project. The audit, completed by Deloitte Ghana, aimed to establish transparency and address the outcry.
In a statement dated Tuesday, September 24, Apostle Onyinah confirmed that the audit report has now been finalized, enabling preparations for construction to resume.
“The need for an audit was a key demand by church leadership and Ghanaians to establish the credibility of the project’s implementation. With the completion of this first report, preparations are underway for construction to resume,” Apostle Onyinah stated. He further called for renewed financial and prayer support for the project from the public.
Construction on the National Cathedral was suspended in 2022 due to financial constraints. Dr. Paul Opoku-Mensah, the Executive Director of the National Cathedral Secretariat, revealed at the time that the project was cash-strapped, preventing further progress. However, he remained optimistic, stating, “We are hoping that within the next couple of weeks, as part of our fundraising and other initiatives, we can begin work again.”
By 2023, Dr. Opoku-Mensah provided an update, clarifying that while construction had stalled, the project itself continued. He explained, “The National Cathedral is almost an institution; it’s going to be one of the largest institutions. So, in addition to funding, we are already engaging with those who can provide us with artifacts to turn it into a world-class site.”
The National Cathedral project has sparked public debate, with concerns raised over its necessity, timing, and the transparency surrounding its funding. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu, accused the government of underreporting the expenses on the project, stating that $58 million had already been spent over the past seven years, with little progress to show for it.
The project is estimated to require $450 million for completion, but it remains unclear whether the government has secured this amount. By mid-2022, various church denominations had contributed GH¢2.21 million ($164,000) towards the project—though significant, this amount falls short of the funds needed to finish the construction.