5 Clergy Men Who Ditched President Akufo-Addo’s National Cathedral Board

The construction of the National Cathedral has garnered significant attention since it was first announced by President Nana Akufo-Addo in 2018.

While the construction is currently ongoing, the project has not been without its share of controversy, most notably the recent resignations of several prominent clergy members from the Board of Trustees.

Also, questions of accountability and the relevance of the project in the face of the country’s economic crisis have been repeatedly raised by the Minority in Parliament.

Critics say even though they recognize the need to honour God, the timing of the project is not prudent since it was a personal pledge by the President to God.

However, proponents of the project, believe that a grand cathedral would serve as a unifying symbol for the nation, a place for spiritual reflection, and an emblem of national pride.

According to President Akufo-Addo, the National Cathedral when completed will become one of the nation’s most iconic landmarks.

In this article, The Ghana Report will delve into the resignations of some of these clergymen and the reasons behind their departures.

In no particular order.

Duncan-Williams

On October 17, news of two prominent clergymen resigning from the National Cathedral Board of Trustees hit the media space.

The two who have had long-standing reservations about the audit situation of the cathedral did not shy away from voicing out their concerns.

Early January this year, the two clergymen called for the project’s immediate suspension and a financial audit.

Founder and General Overseer of United Denominations of Action Chapel Churches Worldwide, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, happens to be one of the clergymen who just joined colleagues on the resignation bench.

The decision to step down stems from the government’s failure to appoint an independent accounting firm to conduct a comprehensive audit of all public funds contributed to the National Cathedral.

In a statement, he said despite his prayers, best hopes and wishes, unfortunately, a needed audit to help restore public confidence and trust in the consequential project has not been done.

Rev Eastwood Anaba

President of Eastwood Anaba Ministries, Rev. Eastwood Anaba, shared the same reservations as Archbishop Duncan-Williams.

He happily signed the statement that saw an end to their contribution as members of the National Cathedral Board.

The same reasons as Archbishop Duncan-Williams was cited as grounds for his resignation.

Dag Heward Mills

In August 2022, the founder and leader of the Lighthouse Chapel International, Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, resigned from the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral project.

The man of God’s resignation letter addressed to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral and copied to about 14 people including President Akufo-Addo noted that his unresolved concerns about the cost of the National Cathedral and other pertinent issues triggered his exit.

He expressed disappointment at the leadership of the edifice for ignoring concerns he raised in several letters he wrote to them.

“I feel that the treatment of the issues I have raised in my several letters has been unfortunate. My letters have been ignored in the past; not attended to for years, and at best addressed flippantly”, Dag Heward-Mills said.

“You may recall I have spoken passionately and written extensively about the costs, the design, the location, the fundraising, the mobilization of the churches, and the role of the trustees.

“These, if heeded, would have made our project more achievable. Generally speaking, my inputs, my opinions, and my letters have been trivialized and set aside”, portions of the letter further disclosed.

According to the Bishop, his decision to resign was also due to the fact that his role as a member of the Board of Trustees was not formalised.

In his resignation letter, he explained that after six years of being appointed to the Board, his name was not formally recognised as a Director of the National Cathedral.

Bishop said even if the exclusion of his name were an administrative error, it could have been corrected during his six year stay on the Board.

Pastor Mensa Otabil

Pastor Otabil’s resignation was revealed by the Member of Parliament for North Tongu Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

According to him, the revered man of God cited ‘illegality happening’ as the reason for his resignation.

But the National Cathedral Secretariat said that was not entirely the truth.

In a statement, the secretariat said: “The Board of Trustees had to be registered as the Directors of the company. A member of the Trustees, Dr Mensa Otabil, the General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church, had indicated that he couldn’t give the needed attention to the project, so didn’t register. So, Dr Mensa Otabil did not resign from the Board as being alleged, but excused himself at the point of registration of the Directors in July 2019”.

Prof. Cephas Omenyo

The immediate past moderator of the Presbyterian Church, Rev. Professor Cephas Omenyo also stepped down from the National Cathedral Board of Trustees.

According to the Presbyterian Church, Prof. Omenyo resigned due to ill health.