The Board of Directors of the National Cathedral of Ghana has dismissed recent reports claiming that the state-allocated site for the National Cathedral project is being repurposed as a Cultural Convention Centre.
In an emergency meeting held on July 7, 2025, the Board addressed growing public concern sparked by circulating online media reports suggesting a change in the project’s purpose.
The Board clarified that no official communication or confirmation has been received from any government agency regarding such a decision.
Dr. Paul Opoku-Mensah, Executive Director of the National Cathedral, emphasized in a statement released Wednesday that the project remains focused on its original mandate.
“No government agency has officially communicated any change in the project’s purpose,” he said.
The National Cathedral was initially proposed to serve as a sacred venue for formal state religious activities, including state funerals and national thanksgiving services.
The statement highlighted that “the recent declaration of July 1 as Ghana’s official National Day of Prayer, commemorated by the inaugural outdoor Christian National Day of Prayer at the State House forecourt, underscores the urgent need to complete the cathedral.”
According to the Board, the National Cathedral site, gifted by the state to the National Cathedral of Ghana, has “completed all preparatory work and architectural designs, including plans for a Bible Museum, a Biblical Garden, and an economic complex featuring multiple revenue streams such as a restaurant and conference facilities.”
They also noted that construction of the National Cathedral of Ghana began in 2021 and has currently reached ‘8% completion but was suspended mainly due to funding shortages and political controversies that hindered fundraising efforts’.
Again, the board of directors stated firmly that despite delays, the project is not abandoned.
Reaffirming the project’s integrity, the board stated that an independent audit conducted by Deloitte and Touche verified that all state funds allocated to the National Cathedral have been properly accounted for.
Looking ahead, the Board is actively exploring strategies to depoliticize the project and enhance statutory accountability.
The Board concluded by noting that it remains steadfast in its commitment to realizing the National Cathedral as a unifying sacred space for all Ghanaian Christians and an inclusive interreligious venue serving the broader community.
By: Kwadwo Owusu
