The National Cathedral Secretariat has responded to a recent report by an audit firm, Deloitte Touche, revealing the misappropriation of funds within its operations.
According to an internal memo to staff dated July 21, Executive Director of the Secretariat, Dr. Paul Opoku-Mensah, branded the report as false and incomplete.
“While the government press conference made reference to audit findings, what was presented was not the actual audit report but rather audit queries that had been responded to in detail.
“This audit report does not exonerate anyone. However, it confirms that there has been no misuse of state funds. All payments made were supported by contracts and guided by legal and financial protocols,” the memo noted.
Deloitte Touche was tasked by President John Dramani Mahama earlier this year to conduct an independent audit on the National Cathedral project.
The report, which covered activities from December 2021 and December 2023, accused the Secretariat of procurement breaches, unsupported expenditures, and governance lapses.
During a press briefing on Friday, July 18, Felix Kwakye Ofosu disclosed that the Secretariat spent 18,500 Ghana cedis on the expenses of one Kharis Psalmist; however, it failed to document the full cost rendered in its records.
“A key example involves academic payment for Mr Kharis Psalmist who was lodged at the Movenpick Hotel from 16th to 28th February 2022 at a cost of 18,500 Ghana cedis.
“However, only 4,976.00 Ghana Cedis was recorded in the books with no documentation accounting for the remaining 13,524.00 Ghana Cedis, which reportedly a refund issued by the hotel but not traceable in the financial records,” he stated.
As a result, the Attorney General (AG) has been instructed by President John Dramani Mahama to ensure all legal processes are initiated for the revocation of the board’s mandate.
“The National Cathedral Ghana was registered limited by guarantee. In view of that, the Attorney General has been directed to take legal steps… and we expect that to be done in the coming days.
The report further explained that, contrary to the $58 million claimed by the former NPP government spent on the National Cathedral project, an outstanding $39 million owed to the contractor brings the total cost to $97 million.
The National Cathedral, originally proposed under the administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, was envisioned as a monumental Christian worship centre in Ghana.
But the project progressed at a snail’s pace, spiralling costs and the use of public funds in a secular state. According to reports, a total amount of $58 million was spent on the project deemed to be Ghana’s most expensive bit.
Over a year ago, Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, raised concerns with the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), alleging irregularities in the project’s construction and the operations of the National Cathedral Secretariat.
After investigating the case for several months, the Commission recommended that the Office of the Auditor-General intervene and conduct a forensic audit to ascertain whether funds allocated for the project were used for their intended purposes.
The Commission highlighted that GHS225.9 million in “seed money” had been spent on activities including site preparation, contractor mobilization, and consultancy services as of May 31, 2022.
CHRAJ’s detailed report recommended the potential prosecution of the board of trustees overseeing the National Cathedral project, citing their role in awarding the contract to Ribade Company Limited.
The report highlighted multiple violations of procurement regulations and warned that the failure of those involved to address the issues could tarnish Ghana’s reputation both locally and internationally.
The government, in April this year, dissolved the National Cathedral Secretariat after noting that it would no longer provide funding for the abandoned project.
Meanwhile, the government has revealed its plans to repurpose the stalled National Cathedral project into a National Cultural Convention Centre (NCCC) to become a central hub for Ghana’s creative economy and cultural diplomacy.
Under the new “SH0W24” plan, part of the 24-hour economy for the creative sector, the NCCC will be developed with support from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and host exhibitions, film festivals, trade expos, and major summits.
The project, the government notes, offers a smart solution to infrastructure challenges without clashing with religious or national values.
“At the national level, a bold flagship intervention is proposed: converting the National Cathedral site into the National Cultural Convention Centre (NCCC), in partnership with the AfCFTA Secretariat. This venue will serve as Africa’s premier cultural diplomacy and creative economy forum, hosting international exhibitions, film festivals, trade shows, and summits-filling a critical infrastructure gap without conflicting with national values or faith institutions,” the document stated.
The National Cultural Convention Centre (NCCC) is a key component of a wider strategy to revitalise Ghana’s creative arts, culture, and tourism sectors as major drivers of economic transformation.
Its development marks a major policy shift regarding the use of the contested National Cathedral site, which has faced public criticism due to delays, rising costs, and questions about its necessity.
Under the SH0W24 initiative, the NCCC is expected to become the flagship infrastructure project for the creative economy, with the capacity to host global exhibitions, festivals, and large-scale cultural events.
The first phase of SH0W24 (2025–2026) will focus on feasibility studies, while the centre is expected to be fully operational in Phase 3 (2028–2030). Phase 2 will see the rollout of the Ghana Cultural Passport, regional programmes, and creative districts aimed at energising local economies. Phase 3 will take things further, focusing on exports and cross-border cultural partnerships.
In addition, the SH0W24 strategy includes the creation of a National Creators Academy, which will train young people in fields such as music, film, fashion, digital media, and cultural performance, using modern tools like AI and virtual reality, along with business and cultural education.
