John Mahama halts state funding for National Cathedral

President John Mahama has officially announced that the government will no longer allocate public funds for the construction of the National Cathedral. During a press briefing at Jubilee House, Minister Mahama Ayariga confirmed that the state is withdrawing its financial support from the project, which was a flagship initiative of the former Nana Akufo-Addo administration. The decision represents a definitive shift in the government's approach to the controversial religious edifice.

As part of the directive, the government has dissolved the National Cathedral’s Board of Trustees with immediate effect. The contractors and the now-dissolved board have been ordered to hand over the construction site to the state. The project site will remain under state control until the government determines its future use based on the findings of an ongoing investigative process. President Mahama has suggested that if the project is to be completed, it should be financed entirely by religious organizations rather than through the national treasury.

Furthermore, the Attorney-General is currently reviewing a forensic audit of the project’s previous expenditures and operations. This review aims to ensure fiscal transparency and accountability regarding the public money already spent on the site. The results of the audit will likely guide the administration's next steps, including any legal actions or recoveries that may be necessary. By halting the funding and commissioning the audit, the Mahama administration seeks to prioritize the redirection of state resources toward other national development goals.