Ghana’s National Cathedral project has once again become the subject of public discussion following comments by President John Dramani Mahama about how the controversial project should be funded.
Speaking during his Resetting Ghana Tour in the Upper West Region on Saturday, September 12, 2026, President Mahama maintained that public funds should not be used to complete the National Cathedral. Instead, he said Ghana’s Christian community has the numbers and potential to mobilise the resources needed to finish the project.
President Mahama’s position is not that Ghana should abandon the idea of a national cathedral altogether. Rather, his concern is primarily about how the project is funded and how it was established.
According to the President, the project originated from a personal pledge made by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Mahama argued that such a pledge should not automatically result in taxpayers being responsible for financing the construction. He explained that Ghana has a large Christian population capable of supporting the project if churches and individual Christians are willing to contribute.
Using an example to demonstrate the potential size of such contributions, Mahama suggested that if Christians across the country contributed GH¢1,000 each, the amount raised could provide significant financial support toward the construction of the cathedral. The figure appeared to be an illustration of the potential strength of collective contributions rather than a formal fundraising requirement imposed on Christians.
The issue of public expenditure has been at the centre of the National Cathedral debate for several years. President Mahama reiterated that government should not commit additional taxpayer resources to the construction. His argument is that the religious community that supports the project should take the lead in mobilising the funds required to complete it.
The President also stressed that he is himself a Christian and therefore does not oppose the existence of a national cathedral. His objection, he explained, concerns the use of public funds for the project and questions surrounding its implementation. This distinction is important because the debate surrounding the cathedral is not simply about religion. It also involves questions about public finances, accountability, procurement, land use and the responsibilities of government when public money is involved.
During his comments, Mahama referred to Ghana’s National Mosque as an example of how religious infrastructure can receive private or international support. The National Mosque received support from a Turkish non-governmental organisation, and Mahama suggested that Christian organisations could similarly explore local and international sources of funding for the National Cathedral.
Such an approach could potentially involve churches, Christian organisations, private individuals, businesses, philanthropists and members of the Ghanaian diaspora. However, raising substantial funds would require a clear and trusted system that allows contributors to understand how their money is collected, managed and spent.
Funding is not the only concern President Mahama raised.
The proposed National Cathedral site is located in an important part of central Accra, close to several major public institutions and landmarks. These include Parliament, the Accra International Conference Centre, the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, the National Theatre and Black Star Square.
Mahama expressed concerns about the amount of space available in the area and suggested that completing the project at its current location could place additional pressure on an already heavily developed part of the capital. The question of whether the existing site remains appropriate is therefore likely to form part of the broader discussions about the future of the project.
Another significant development is the forensic audit into money already spent on the National Cathedral project. President Mahama said an audit covering nearly US$90 million in expenditure had been completed and was currently with the Attorney-General. He further indicated that a copy would be made available to the Christian Council of Ghana. This would give Christian leaders an opportunity to examine the findings and determine what steps may be necessary based on the information contained in the report.
The audit could become an important part of the ongoing conversation about accountability and transparency surrounding the project. The discussion comes shortly after the Christian Council of Ghana announced the formation of a technical committee on September 11, 2026.
The committee reportedly brings together representatives from different Christian groupings and has been given one month to develop recommendations concerning the future of the National Cathedral. Among the issues expected to receive attention are possible funding arrangements, the project's location and other outstanding matters affecting its completion.
The committee's work could therefore provide a framework for determining whether the Christian community can develop a sustainable alternative to government financing. Ghana has a predominantly Christian population. According to the 2021 Population and Housing Census, Christians account for more than 70 percent of the country's population.
Mahama's reference to a GH¢1,000 contribution from individual Christians highlights the potential scale of collective fundraising. However, turning that potential into actual funding would present a considerable organisational challenge. A successful fundraising campaign would likely require broad participation from churches and Christian organisations, transparent financial administration and confidence among potential contributors. It could also provide an opportunity for Ghanaians living abroad and international Christian organisations to participate in the financing of the project.
The National Cathedral has generated strong opinions since its inception.
Supporters regard it as an important religious and national landmark that could serve as a symbol of Ghana's Christian heritage and provide a major centre for Christian activities. Critics, however, have questioned the decision to commit public resources to the project. Concerns have also been raised over issues including expenditure, procurement, the use of public land and the opportunity cost of allocating government resources to the cathedral when other sectors require funding.
President Mahama's latest comments attempt to draw a line between the religious objective of constructing a national cathedral and the responsibility of government to manage public funds. Under this approach, the cathedral can potentially continue as a project supported by Christians and other private contributors without requiring further direct financing from taxpayers.
The next stage will depend largely on the findings of the forensic audit and the recommendations of the Christian Council's technical committee. If the Christian community decides to continue with the project, it will need to develop a funding model capable of generating substantial resources while maintaining public confidence and financial transparency.
The question of location will also need to be addressed, particularly if concerns remain about congestion and the use of land in central Accra. For now, President Mahama's position remains clear: government should not use taxpayers' money to complete the National Cathedral.
If the project is to continue, the responsibility for raising the necessary funds will increasingly fall on Ghana's Christian community and potential private or international partners. The coming weeks could therefore be important in determining the future direction of one of Ghana's most closely watched public projects.
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