Construction on the National Cathedral project is set to resume, according to a statement issued by the chairman of the board, Apostle Professor Opoku Onyinah.
Apostle Onyinah made the announcement following a September 20 meeting between the Board of Directors of the National Cathedral of Ghana and auditors from Deloitte.
The meeting was held to brief church leaders on the statutory audit report, covering the period from the project’s inception to December 31, 2020, which has now been completed by Deloitte Ghana.
The National Cathedral’s board had authorized the audit in response to public outcry over alleged corruption and questionable expenditures related to the project.
Apostle Onyinah confirmed that the audit report is now ready, clearing the way for construction to resume.
“The need for an audit was a key demand by the church leadership and Ghanaians in general to establish the credibility of the implementation of the project. With the completion of this first report, preparations are underway for construction to resume.
“We appreciate your support so far, and trust that the completion of the ongoing audit will renew your prayer and financial support for the NCG project.”
In the last seven years, Ghana’s taxpayers have expended $58 million on the project which, in August 2024, has not progressed as the government had hoped.
An estimated $450 million is needed to complete the project and it is not clear if that amount is yet available to complete the construction.
By mid-2022, various church denominations had contributed GH¢2.21 million ($164,000) towards the construction of the national cathedral. Though a large sum, the amount is not sufficient on its own to pay the remaining costs of construction.