Christians can fund National Cathedral with GH¢1,000 each, not taxpayers' money - Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has reiterated that public funds should not be used to construct the National Cathedral, arguing that Christians across Ghana could help finance the project through individual contributions.

Speaking during his tour of the Upper West Region, President Mahama said he had no objection to the country having a National Cathedral but maintained that taxpayers should not bear the cost.

“How many Christians are in this country? If we all pay GH¢1,000 each, we should be able to construct a National Cathedral,” he said.

“My second problem was that we shouldn’t use taxpayers’ money,” he added.

The President also questioned the choice of location for the project, saying the site is surrounded by major public facilities, including Parliament, the International Conference Centre, the Greater Accra Regional Hospital and the National Theatre.

He argued that constructing the cathedral at the location would constrict the area around Black Star Square.

President Mahama also criticised the demolition of properties to make way for the project. These included 10 judges’ residences, the residence of the Malian Ambassador—which he said had not been replaced—and the old passport office.

He stressed that his position should not be interpreted as opposition to the project.

“I am a Christian myself. I have nothing against having a National Cathedral,” he said.

President Mahama disclosed that a forensic audit of the National Cathedral project had been completed and submitted to the Attorney General.

He said a copy would be made available to the Christian Council so it could examine how almost US$90 million had been spent and determine whether corrective action was 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.

The President maintained that the National Cathedral was different from other inherited projects he had pledged to continue in the public interest.

He described the cathedral as a personal pledge by former President Nana Akufo-Addo rather than a government policy, explaining why he did not consider it among the projects his administration was committed to completing.