Mahama Ayariga Announces Government Takeover of National Cathedral Site Amid Forensic Audit

The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, has announced that the site of the National Cathedral has been officially returned to the government. This development comes as the President John Mahama administration halts further public investment into the controversial project, pending a comprehensive review by the Attorney-General. The move signals a significant shift in the state's approach to the edifice, which was a flagship project under the former Nana Akufo-Addo administration but has faced persistent scrutiny over its financial management and transparency.

As part of the transition, the project’s contractor has been formally instructed to hand over the site to the Ministry of Local Government. Mr. Ayariga confirmed that the government has also dissolved the National Cathedral’s Board of Trustees, a decision that was communicated directly to the board members. This action aligns with the current administration's firm stance of refraining from committing any additional public funds to the project until all legal and financial questions are resolved. The site will now be held by the Ministry while the executive branch awaits legal guidance on the appropriate next steps.

Central to the current pause is a forensic audit of the expenditures incurred during the project’s initial phases under the previous administration. The Attorney-General is currently reviewing the audit's findings alongside the original construction plans to assess the viability and legality of the work done so far. According to Mr. Ayariga, the forensic investigation is intended to provide a clear accounting of how state resources were allocated and to address long-standing public concerns regarding the project's management. The results of this legal and financial review will be the primary factor in determining the project's ultimate fate.

The return of the site to state control represents a pivotal moment in the ongoing national debate regarding the Cathedral. While the previous government viewed the project as a vital national monument, the current administration’s recent actions emphasize a priority on fiscal accountability and legal oversight. For now, the future of the massive excavation site in the heart of Accra remains uncertain, with the Ghanaian public and stakeholders looking toward the Attorney-General’s forthcoming advice to see if the project will be repurposed, redesigned, or permanently halted.