National Cathedral ‘Yaamutu’ …Ayariga Says Contractor Has Been Asked To Hand Over The Site Back To Government

In the wake of assurances from Ghana's Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, that he would collaborate with President John Dramani Mahama to garner support for the National Cathedral project, the government has taken a different stance. On August 27, 2026, during his parliamentary vetting, Ayariga expressed his intention to engage the President on the matter, despite having reservations about the location and the need for more private and philanthropic contributions.

He affirmed that if approved by the House and if the President were supportive, he would wholeheartedly mobilize resources for the project's completion.

However, in a recent turn of events, Ayariga announced that the government would not fund the project, instead instructing the contractor to return the site to the government. During his parliamentary vetting, Ayariga had assured the public of his commitment to the project, stating that he would engage the Christian community and the President if given the mandate. He reiterated that if the President remained committed, he would support the project's continuation and completion.

Previously, the state-owned Daily Graphic reported on August 12, 2026, that President Mahama disagreed with using public funds for the National Cathedral project, asserting that the Christian community had the means to finance its construction. Although President Mahama expressed no objection to the project's construction due to his Christian beliefs, he contended that the chosen site was congested, with several significant landmarks already in close proximity.

He indicated that the project should be handled separately from policies inherited from the previous administration, yet he pledged to continue supporting the initiative.

Yet, in a recent interview, Ayariga clarified the government's position, asserting that public funds would not be allocated to the project. He also informed that President Mahama had disbanded the Board of Trustees, which had been in place to oversee the cathedral's construction. Ayariga contended that since the government would not fund the project, the Board of Trustees was no longer relevant in its current form and had been informed of their dissolution.

Regarding the future of the site, Ayariga indicated that the contractor had been directed to return the property to the state. He also mentioned that the Attorney General was reviewing a forensic audit into the expenditure related to the initial construction plans under the previous administration. The outcome of this review will dictate the subsequent steps for the site.