Amidst conflicting accounts on how much the government has spent on the controversial national cathedral project, the Executive Director of the National Cathedral Secretariat, Dr. Paul Opoku Mensah, has offered some clarity.
According to Dr. Paul Opoku Mensah, the Akufo-Addo government has spent a total of GH₵339.003.064.86 on the project.
He says it includes GH₵113 million paid to the Consultant, and GH₵225 million paid to the Secretariat for the construction.
Dr. Opoku Mensah dismissed reports that the secretariat has misappropriated funds allocated to the project.
He was speaking after President Akufo-Addo visited the construction site on Monday, January 2, 2023.
“For purposes of clarity, I want to report a verbatim memo I sent on this issue dated 19th January 2022 and addressed to the Clerk of Parliament. The indication was that the government has given us GH₵339 million, and we could account for GH₵225 million leaving GH₵114 million missing.”
“Here, I quote what I wrote to the Clerk. As we indicated to the Committee on Thursday, December 15, 2022, the total amount paid by the Government of Ghana to the National Cathedral project is GH¢339 million. This total is made up of the following: the amount paid directly to the National Cathedral Secretariat is GH₵225 million. The amount paid directly to the Consultant, Adjaye Associates & Design Team is GH₵113.040.54.67 million. The two payments total GH₵339.003.064.86.”
“So, there are no missing funds that could not be accounted for. Secondly, the detailed account for these funds was provided to Parliament on December 15, 2022, by the Secretariat. In the case of the accounting from the Secretariat, this involves among others, total payments made to the contractor, and total payments made to the Bible Museum and Biblical Gardens Design Team.”
In the face of massive criticism against the project, President Akufo-Addo justified the construction and pledged his continous support towards it.
He was hopeful that with the support of the Christian community the promise he made to God will be fulfilled and the National Cathedral will be completed.
He made a donation of GHS 100,000 towards the construction of the stalled project.
“As I have said before, the National Cathedral will not just be another monument adorning the skyline of Accra, it will be a rallying point for the entire Christian community to come together and worship… I am therefore committed to working with the Board of Trustees to ensure the completion of this project to the glory of God.”
In December 2022, Parliament disapproved the allocation of an additional GH¢80 million for the construction of the cathedral.
The rejection followed government’s decision to reintroduce the allocation in the budget estimates for the Roads and Highways and Communication Ministries.
The House subsequently approved GH¢180 million for the Tourism Ministry, Arts and Culture as against the initial allocation of GH¢260 million for 2023.
The project was envisioned in March 2017 as a physical embodiment of national unity, harmony, and spirituality.
The inter-denominational cathedral is expected to have an auditorium capable of seating 5,000 people, chapels, and a baptistery.
