Ghana’s new President, John Mahama, has announced plans to investigate the controversial $400m national cathedral project, which has been marred by allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement. The project, initiated by former President Nana Akufo-Addo, has been criticized for its high cost and lack of transparency.
Despite initial claims that the project would be privately funded, $58m of taxpayers’ money has already been spent, with little to show for it except a huge crater on a valuable plot of land in central Accra. The project’s site was previously occupied by state buildings, judges’ homes, and financial firms.
Mahama has stated that the investigation will focus on the misuse of public funds and will be conducted by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ). He also hinted that the project’s cost could be reduced and that alternative funding options could be explored.
The national cathedral project has sparked intense debate in Ghana, with many questioning the wisdom of investing in a luxury project while the country faces pressing needs in healthcare and education. The project has also been criticized by senior clergymen, with five members of the cathedral’s board of trustees resigning amid calls for the government to halt the project and conduct an audit.
Ghana’s economic crisis has further fuelled concerns about the project’s viability. The country received a $3bn bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last year, and inflation remains high at 23.8%. The new Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson, has suggested that public money will no longer be used for the project, citing the need to cut off wasteful expenditure.
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