Government Confirms $97m Spent on Stalled National Cathedral Project as Audit Reveals Cost Overruns and Unpaid Obligations
The Government has disclosed that a total of $97 million has been spent on the controversial National Cathedral project, even though construction remains stalled at the foundation level.
The disclosure was made by the Minister of State in charge of Government Communication, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, at a press briefing in Accra on Friday, July 18. He indicated that the amount includes a previously undisclosed $39 million owed to the project’s main contractor, bringing the total financial exposure of the state to nearly $100 million.
“National Cathedral Project amounts to $58 million so far, and there is an additional outstanding $39 million payment due the contractor,” Mr Kwakye Ofosu stated. “This brings the total cost incurred for the hole at the site of the project to $97 million.”
The National Cathedral, envisioned by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as a national monument of faith and unity, has faced widespread scrutiny since its announcement in 2017. Although billed as a privately funded initiative, substantial public resources were subsequently allocated to the project, fuelling a nationwide debate on priorities, transparency, and accountability.
The Minister explained that due to what he described as “skewed contract terms,” the state continues to accrue financial liabilities on the project despite the absence of ongoing construction activities. He cited a recent audit conducted by Deloitte and Touche, which highlighted several governance and financial irregularities, including cost overruns, poor contract structuring, and a general lack of transparency.
The audit has further deepened public concerns about the project, which has become one of the country’s most contentious public infrastructure initiatives. Critics say the National Cathedral has evolved into a fiscal liability rather than a symbol of national unity.
The government, however, insists that it is committed to full accountability. Mr Kwakye Ofosu assured the public that further details would be disclosed as investigations continue into the financial and administrative handling of the project.
With economic pressures mounting and public finances under strain, the revelation is likely to intensify calls for a broader review of state-led infrastructure projects and their procurement frameworks.
