National Cathedral: Christian Council forms committee to determine way forward

The Christian Council of Ghana has established a technical committee comprising representatives from various Christian groupings to explore the way forward for the stalled National Cathedral project.

The committee has been given one month to develop a practical funding model and make recommendations on the location of the project, as well as other key issues surrounding the controversial and unfinished development.

The initiative follows a closed-door meeting between Christian leaders and the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Chairman of the Christian Council of Ghana, Reverend Enoch Nii Narh Thompson, said the committee would examine the major outstanding issues surrounding the National Cathedral and submit its recommendations to President John Dramani Mahama.

He said the objective was to provide a practical basis for decisions on how the project could be addressed.Under this council, within a month, we will discuss issues relating to the practical intervention of funding, location and other things pertinent to the National Cathedral. So, we will within the month present the recommendations and expect the necessary decisions to be taken.”

The committee's work is expected to focus particularly on the financial sustainability of the project, its proposed location and other matters that have affected its progress.

The Christian Council also called for the expedited completion of the forensic audit into the National Cathedral project.

According to the Council, the findings of the audit would provide Christian leaders with a clearer understanding of the project's financial and administrative situation and help them determine the appropriate way forward.

The call for the audit comes amid longstanding questions surrounding the financing, expenditure and stalled construction of the National Cathedral.

The Council believes that having the findings available would help inform any recommendations on the project's future.

The National Cathedral project was announced in 2017 by then-President Nana Akufo-Addo as a national Christian worship and heritage centre.

The project was officially commissioned in 2018, while groundbreaking ceremonies were held in 2019.

However, construction has since faced significant funding and implementation challenges, leaving the project incomplete.

The stalled development has generated public debate over its financing, construction progress and future, with various stakeholders calling for greater clarity on the project's status.

The Christian Council's technical committee is now expected to provide recommendations that could help determine the next phase of the project.

Its proposed funding model, recommendations on the location and findings on other outstanding issues will be presented to President Mahama for consideration.

The completion of the forensic audit is also expected to provide additional information to guide decisions on whether and how the project should proceed.

With the committee operating under a one-month deadline, its recommendations could provide a significant basis for renewed discussions between government, Christian leaders and other stakeholders over the future of the National Cathedral.