The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has disclosed that the National Cathedral project has cost the nation $97 million, far higher than the $58 million figure previously made public.
Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo cut sod for the construction of the Cathedral on March 5, 2020, describing it as the fulfillment of a promise he made to God ahead of the 2016 elections.
The interdenominational Christian edifice was designed to include a 5,000-seat auditorium, chapels, a baptistery, a music school, an art gallery, and a Bible museum, with completion projected within five years.
Speaking in an interview on Monday, September 8, Ahmed Ibrahim stressed that he is best placed to speak on the Cathedral matter. According to him, when the current administration assumed office, neither the government nor the Attorney General had access to the project’s documentation until he personally engaged the previous government to obtain records and accountability reports.
He said subsequent engagement with the National Cathedral Board revealed that the actual project cost stood at $97 million.
Of this amount, $58 million had already been paid, leaving an outstanding debt of $39 million at the time the previous government exited office. Ahmed Ibrahim added that he had informed President Mahama of these findings.
“When I took over the Ministry, I would score myself 99% in handling the National Cathedral issue. Initially, the government, including the Attorney General and the Special Prosecutor, did not have the full documentation. However, my engagement with the previous administration revealed that the actual cost was $97 million, not the $58 million that was publicly known,” he said.
