Taxpayers’ money shouldn’t fund National Cathedral – Mahama
President John Mahama has reaffirmed his position that taxpayers’ money should not be used to finance the construction of the National Cathedral, insisting that Ghana’s Christian community should be capable of mobilising funds for the project.
Speaking during a citizens’ engagement as part of his tour of the Upper West Region, President Mahama said he had no objection to the construction of a National Cathedral but opposed the use of public funds for the facility.
He argued that the Christian community, through its various denominations and groups, could raise sufficient resources to complete the project.
“My second problem was that we shouldn’t use taxpayers’ money.”
According to President Mahama, Ghana has a large Christian population and could mobilise significant funds if Christians contributed towards the project.
“I mean, how many Christians are in this country? If we all pay 1,000 cedis each, we should be able to construct a national cathedral,” he said.
The President also criticised the location chosen for the National Cathedral, saying the area already accommodates several important public institutions and facilities.
He cited Parliament, the International Conference Centre, the Greater Accra Regional Hospital and the National Theatre as examples of major facilities within the area.
“My principle has always been that the location has been a problem,” President Mahama said.
He explained that adding another major facility to the area could create congestion, particularly during major events when several of the surrounding facilities are in use.
“So normally during ceremonies, you have the stadium not far, and that’s the way we used to go to Black Star Square. So if you go and put this major thing there again, it will constrict that whole area,” he said.
President Mahama further raised concerns about the demolition of existing properties to make way for the cathedral.
He said several judges’ residences, the residence of the Malian Ambassador and the old passport office were demolished as part of efforts to clear the site.
“My problem was also that the amount of destruction we had to cause to clear the area; broke 10 judges’ residences.
“We broke the Malian Ambassador’s residence. Up to now, we’ve not replaced it. And several other properties, the old passport office, all of them were demolished to make way for a national cathedral,” he said.
The President stressed that his concerns should not be interpreted as opposition to the establishment of a National Cathedral.
As a Christian himself, he said he supported the idea of having such a facility but maintained that it should not be funded by taxpayers.
“I am a Christian myself. I have nothing against having a national cathedral,” he said.
President Mahama also disclosed that the forensic audit into the National Cathedral project has been completed and is currently with the Attorney General.
He said he intends to provide the Christian Council of Ghana with a copy of the audit so the Council can review how the funds spent on the project were utilised.
The President put the expenditure under scrutiny at almost US$90 million, saying the audit would help identify any corrective measures that may be necessary.
“The forensic audit is ready; it’s with the Attorney General, and I’ll make a copy of it available to the Christian Council so that they can look at the processes of what went into the expenditure of the 90 million dollars, so that if there’s any corrective action, we can take it together,” he said.
President Mahama further explained that although his administration has committed to continuing projects and policies inherited from the previous government where they serve the public interest, he considers the National Cathedral a different case.
He said the project was not a national policy but rather a personal pledge made by former President Nana Akufo-Addo.
“The only one is the National Cathedral, but that was not a national policy. It was a personal pledge by the former president. It was a personal pledge by the former president to God. So that one, it wasn’t national policy,” he said.
The comments come after the Christian Council of Ghana on Friday, September 11, 2026, announced the formation of a technical committee made up of representatives from various Christian groupings to explore ways of reviving the stalled project.
The committee has been given one month to develop a practical funding model and make recommendations on the proposed location of the cathedral and other outstanding issues.
About The Author
