President Mahama hints at changing the location of National Cathedral

President John Dramani Mahama has hinted at the possibility of relocating the National Cathedral of Ghana.

The President shared this while addressing the gathering at the National Prayer and Thanksgiving Service, held as part of his inauguration at the auditorium of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), on Sunday, January 12, 2025.

He stated that the Christian community in Ghana would reconsider the project, including aspects such as its location and cost.

“On the future of the project — the Cathedral — I believe that all of us as Christians must forge a consensus on how to achieve such a project without recourse to public funds. This project must be realized at a reasonable cost.

“I believe that we can arrive at a more reasonable figure for achieving such a project, and together, we can raise the funding for it. Such reconsideration of the project might even include changing the current site that was chosen for it. I leave the rest to any future consultations we will have as the body of Christ,” he said.

The President also announced that his government would soon initiate an investigation into the construction of the cathedral, as directed by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).

He emphasized that the amount of money spent on the project by the previous government was questionable and warranted scrutiny.

“The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice directed the government to audit the project and investigate any misuse of public funds. The government is obligated to comply with this directive and will soon commence such an investigation into the project,” Mahama said.

“In the current circumstances Ghana is facing, it makes no sense to pursue such a project at a staggering cost of $400 million. I am informed that the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja, which serves all Christian faiths in Nigeria, was built at a cost of $30 million,” he noted.

BAI/KA

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