Minister of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has said that the government has not taken any decision to convert the National Cathedral site into a Cultural Convention Centre.
He clarified that a proposal has been received to convert the site, but a decision has not been made yet.
“No decision has been taken,” he said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, July 19. He explained that the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat received a proposal to convert the site into a convention centre.
At an earlier Press conference, to update on the Deloitte and Touche audit report on Friday, July 18, 2025. Mr Kwakye Ofosu stated that President Mahama has tasked the Attorney-General to commence a forensic audit into the National Cathedral Project and the activities of the Secretariat.
The Minister said this has become necessary because the Deloitte audit report does not cover the full scope of operations of the National Cathedral Secretariat and the project itself.
“Despite the damning findings contained in the Deloitte audit report, it does not cover the full scope of operations of the National Cathedral Secretariat and the project itself. The Auditor-General has therefore been requested to commission a forensic audit into the National Cathedral Project and the activities of the Secretariat,” he announced.
The Attorney-General is also taking steps to ensure the lawful termination of the contract to prevent further costs and losses to the state.
President Mahama has also officially dissolved the National Cathedral Secretariat, formerly housed at the Presidency, effective 1st May 2025.
This comes on the heels of a damning audit conducted by Deloitte and Touche, which uncovered widespread financial irregularities, procurement breaches, and unsupported expenditures within the Secretariat’s operations between 2021 and 2023.
In addition the President has directed the Attorney-General to take legal steps to dissolve the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral project.The President has also ordered that in the spirit of transparency and accountability, the Deloitte Audit report on the project should be published immediately.
The Minister also said available evidence indicates that more than $58 million was spent on the project, which is yet to begin.
He noted that an additional amount of 39 million dollars was paid to the contractor, Sir David Adjaye and Associates, bringing the total amount spent on the project to $97 million.
“Available evidence contrary to the widely held view that total payments and contributions to the national cathedral project amount to 58 million dollars so far, there is actually an additional outstanding payment of 39 million dollars to the contractor.
“No, when added up, this brings the total cost incurred so far for the hole that sits at the site of the project to 97 million dollars,” he stressed.
Kwakye Ofosu disclosed that additional costs continue to accrue daily since March 2023, despite the cessation of work on the project due to the lopsided nature of the contract.
Deloitte began a full independent audit of the controversial National Cathedral project initiative launched under former President Akufo-Addo.
The National Cathedral has in the past been smeared with corruption allegations, particularly after $58 million was spent on the project, which has not even commenced and is still at the foundational level.
The many controversies surrounding the project caused notable Board members charged with overseeing the project to resign from their positions.
President Mahama is expecting the Attorney-General to also undertake a forensic audit of the project for further prosecution.
Source: 3news
