The Board of Directors of the National Cathedral of Ghana has insisted that the Cathedral project has not been abandoned.
The board dismissed reports claiming that the state-allocated site for the National Cathedral project is being repurposed into a Cultural Convention Centre.
According to the board, no government agency has officially communicated any change in the project’s purpose.
On Wednesday, July 9, in a statement issued by the Executive Director of the National Cathedral, Dr. Paul Opoku-Mensah, stated, “The National Cathedral project has not been abandoned, nor has there been any official decision to convert the site into a Cultural Convention Centre”.
“The site remains legally held by the National Cathedral of Ghana, incorporated as a company limited by guarantee, with all architectural and design plans tailored specifically for its current religious and cultural vision.”
“The Board remains fully committed to the vision of the National Cathedral,” Dr. Opoku-Mensah concluded, “not only as a national place of worship and unity for the Christian community, but also as an interfaith and cultural space for all Ghanaians.”
The National Cathedral was the brainchild of former President Nana Akufo-Addo as a national Christian worship centre and a symbol of Ghana’s religious heritage to thank God for ensuring his victory in election 2016 and 2020 elections.
The National Cathedral project was initiated in 2017 but was mired in controversy due to its high cost, the source of funding, and allegations of embezzlement of funds by its Board of Trustees.
It faced widespread criticism over the handling of its finances and execution, with several allegations of financial mismanagement and corruption surfacing throughout its development.
It will be recalled that the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral were exonerated by an international accounting and auditing firm, Deloitte, following an audit of the controversial project.
In its report, Deloitte found no adverse financial irregularities in the National Cathedral project. The firm confirmed that “proper books of accounts have been kept and the information and explanations provided are in line with the requirements of the Companies Act, 2019 (Act 922).”
This was disclosed in a statement issued by Apostle Professor Opoku Onyina, Chairman of the National Cathedral Board, after a meeting between Deloitte and church leaders on Friday, September 20, 2024.
The Board acknowledged concerns over the length of time it took to complete the audit, which began in July 2023. However, the Board expressed appreciation for the meticulous audit procedures undertaken by Deloitte, including comprehensive checks with all parties involved in the project’s financial dealings.
Meanwhile, there have been reports that the John Mahama-led government plans to transform the abandoned National Cathedral project into a National Cultural Convention Centre (NCCC).
The NCCC will focus on growing Ghana’s cultural diplomacy and creative economy.
According to the policy document under the new 24-hour economy, called the SHOW24, it revealed plans that a National Cultural Convention Centre (NCCC) will be set up in collaboration with the AfCFTA Secretariat.
The move is to make the place Africa’s premier location for trade shows, international exhibitions, film festivals, and summits.
The government noted that the initiative will address a critical infrastructure gap while avoiding conflict with religious or national values.
A report by myjoyonline.com quotes the document as saying, “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.”
“Under SHOW24, the centre will serve as the crown jewel in Ghana’s creative economy infrastructure.
It is projected to host large-scale events and exhibitions that will place Ghana firmly on the global cultural map”.
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National Cathedral Board resists plans to convert the project into National Cultural Convention Center, insisting the Cathedral project has not been abandoned#JoyNews pic.twitter.com/E8dN0hlEfA
— Joy 99.7 FM (@Joy997FM) July 9, 2025
