The impending audit of the proposed $400 million National Cathedral of Ghana is a pivotal step in addressing the controversial project that has divided the nation during ongoing economic challenges.
Ghana's Government to Audit Controversial $400 Million Cathedral Project
Ghana's Government to Audit Controversial $400 Million Cathedral Project
Ghana's President John Mahama aims to investigate potential misuse of funds tied to the contentious national cathedral proposal amid economic turmoil.
The newly elected President John Mahama has announced plans to thoroughly investigate the questionable financial decisions surrounding the proposed construction of the National Cathedral, a monumental initiative initially championed by former President Nana Akufo-Addo. The cathedral, which was expected to serve as a central hub for national religious events, has so far consumed $58 million of taxpayer funds, with no significant progress to show except for a large excavation site in the heart of Accra.
During a recent thanksgiving service, Mahama confirmed that the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) will spearhead the audit, scrutinizing any misuse of public funds associated with the cathedral project. While he acknowledged the growing opposition to the project, Mahama left open the possibility of continuing with a reduced budget or potentially relocating the site.
"This project must make sense in the context of the current economic crisis," Mahama articulated, emphasizing the need for a more pragmatic approach. New Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson reinforced this stance, declaring that public funds would henceforth be excluded from any future project funding.
The call for a reconsideration follows significant backlash from citizens questioning the rationale behind investing so heavily in a religious building while basic public services, such as healthcare, remain underfunded, particularly in light of the country's ongoing financial crisis and a recent $3 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Calls for financial accountability have intensified, with some lawmakers, including NDC's Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, advocating for the termination of the project entirely in favor of addressing more pressing needs in the community. Further complicating matters, five members of the cathedral’s board of trustees have already resigned amid ongoing scrutiny.
As discussions continue, the citizens of Ghana are hopeful that the incoming government will prioritize their pressing needs over the ambitions symbolized by the cathedral project.
During a recent thanksgiving service, Mahama confirmed that the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) will spearhead the audit, scrutinizing any misuse of public funds associated with the cathedral project. While he acknowledged the growing opposition to the project, Mahama left open the possibility of continuing with a reduced budget or potentially relocating the site.
"This project must make sense in the context of the current economic crisis," Mahama articulated, emphasizing the need for a more pragmatic approach. New Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson reinforced this stance, declaring that public funds would henceforth be excluded from any future project funding.
The call for a reconsideration follows significant backlash from citizens questioning the rationale behind investing so heavily in a religious building while basic public services, such as healthcare, remain underfunded, particularly in light of the country's ongoing financial crisis and a recent $3 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Calls for financial accountability have intensified, with some lawmakers, including NDC's Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, advocating for the termination of the project entirely in favor of addressing more pressing needs in the community. Further complicating matters, five members of the cathedral’s board of trustees have already resigned amid ongoing scrutiny.
As discussions continue, the citizens of Ghana are hopeful that the incoming government will prioritize their pressing needs over the ambitions symbolized by the cathedral project.
