National cathedral project cost $97 Million – Kwakye Ofosu
Minister of Government Communication, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has revealed that the National Cathedral project has so far cost the Ghanaian state a staggering $97 million, significantly more than previously believed.
This disclosure follows President John Dramani Mahama’s directive for an independent audit of the project by Deloitte and Touche, which uncovered serious financial irregularities.
According to the Minister, the audit revealed a troubling lack of due diligence, weak internal controls, and poor accounting practices by the project’s management.
Most concerning, he said, was the failure to produce supporting documents for key expenditures.
“Equally troubling is management’s inability to provide documentation for several transactions, including office costs, board expenses, and accommodation related to the Biblical Museum of Africa symposium,” Kwakye Ofosu told journalists at a press briefing on Friday, July 18.
Contrary to earlier reports suggesting that $58 million had been spent or committed, the audit found an additional $39 million still owed to the project’s contractor bringing the total financial burden of the stalled project to $97 million.
“It bears noting that documentation available indicates that, contrary to the widely held belief that the total payments and commitments for the National Cathedral project amount to $58 million, there is still an outstanding $39 million owed to the contractor. This brings the total cost of what is now essentially a hole in the ground to $97 million,” he stated.
Kwakye Ofosu further warned that costs continue to rise daily, despite the fact that work on the project halted years ago due to what he described as unfavorable contractual terms.
The National Cathedral, envisioned not only as a religious monument but also as a national heritage and tourism site, was planned to include a Bible museum, Biblical garden, banquet hall, 350-seat restaurant, library, and conference center.
However, progress on the project has been stalled amid growing public criticism and mounting financial concerns.