Christian Council sets up committee to find way forward for National Cathedral

The Christian Council of Ghana has formed a technical committee to determine the future path of the National Cathedral project. The committee, comprised of representatives from different Christian groups, will examine crucial matters such as funding and site selection. Its chairman, Rev. Enoch Nii Narh Thompson, stated that the committee will deliberate on the practical aspects of funding, location, and other pertinent issues within a month.

Upon completion, the committee will present its findings to the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, who will then forward them to President John Dramani Mahama for decision-making. The Council is optimistic that this process will help resolve the disagreements surrounding the project and bring closure to the uncertainty that has plagued it for some time.

The National Cathedral, originally announced by then-President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in March 2018, was intended to symbolize unity, harmony, and spirituality. The design, by British-Ghanaian architect Sir David Adjaye, featured multiple chapels, a baptistery, a 5,000-seat auditorium, a music school, an art gallery, and Africa's first Bible Museum on a 14.5-acre site near key landmarks in Ghana's capital.

However, a Deloitte and Touche audit in May 2025 revealed numerous financial irregularities, procurement breaches, and a lack of proper procedures, leading to the dissolution of the National Cathedral secretariat in July 2025 and the announcement of a comprehensive forensic audit. Minister Ayariga emphasized the importance of consensus among Christian groups on the project's location, cost, and financing.

The technical committee's formation aims to facilitate discussions among the groups to reach a consensus and submit recommendations within a month for further evaluation by the government.