The National Cathedral Project, once projected as a national monument of unity and spirituality, has come under sharp scrutiny following the release of an audit report by Deloitte & Touche.
The findings, which were reviewed by government officials and made public by Hon. Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Presidential Spokesperson and Minister for Government Communications, reveal a deeply troubling pattern of financial infractions, weak oversight, and breaches of due process.
“From unexplained payments to discrepancies in contract values, weak internal controls, and questionable governance practices, the National Cathedral project has deviated considerably from the principles of accountability and fiscal discipline.”
Hon. Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Presidential Spokesperson and Minister for Government Communications
According to Hon. Kwakye Ofosu, the Deloitte audit report covers the operations of the National Cathedral Secretariat between December 31, 2021, and December 31, 2023, and paints a disturbing picture of how public resources were managed, or mismanaged, under the banner of constructing a national edifice.
“The available documentation indicates that, contrary to the widely held view that total payments and commitments to the project amount to $58 million, there is an additional outstanding payment of $39 million due to the contractor. This will bring the total cost incurred for the hole at the project site to $97 million”.
Hon. Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Presidential Spokesperson and Minister for Government Communications
He added that due to the lopsided nature of the contract, “additional costs continue to accrue daily, despite the project having ceased work years ago.”
Inconsistencies in Payment
A closer examination of the audit reveals numerous inconsistencies, starting with consultancy fees paid to Sir David Adjaye & Associates Ltd., the architectural firm overseeing the cathedral’s design.
According to Hon. Kwakye Ofosu, the Office of the President confirms payments totalling GHS 113 million, while the firm’s own records indicate receipt of GHS 117.9 million—a discrepancy of over GHS 4.9 million that remains unexplained.
“Payment records indicate that the Ministry of Finance made payments of GHS 87,938,750.00 between September 26, 2018, and November 25, 2019.
“Subsequently, the Office of the President made two payments: GHS 29,664,845.29 on 19th February 2021 and GHS 369,060.71 on 5th March 2021—bringing the presidency’s total contribution to GHS 30,033,906.00. Combined, these payments total GHS 117,972,656.00 received by the firm.”
Hon. Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Presidential Spokesperson and Minister for Government Communications
Project Cost Disparities
Another glaring anomaly involves Ribade JV, the main contractor for the project. While the officially signed contract indicates a value of $261.9 million (excluding taxes), the Office of the President quoted a higher figure of $286.4 million.
To compound matters, a project progress report puts the contract amount at $268.5 million, whereas payment certificates estimate it at $283.2 million.
These inconsistent figures—ranging from the legally binding agreement to reported progress and payment claims, Hon. Kwakye noted, indicate “a lack of coherence and clarity in contract administration and project cost management.”
Further discrepancies emerged in the government’s dealings with The Nehemiah Group, a consultant on the project. Hon. Kwakye Ofosu disclosed that the Office of the President reports a payment of $4.28 million to the group, but the firm itself claims to have received $4.34 million, leaving $60,000 unaccounted for.
According to him, even more troubling is the variation in reported outstanding balances: the presidency pegged it at $1.85 million, while Nehemiah insisted it is only owed $155,616. These inconsistencies, the minister observed, “require urgent investigation to maintain transparency and fiscal responsibility.”
Procurement Breaches
Equally alarming are the procurement breaches associated with Sir David Adjaye & Associates Ltd. According to the Minister for Government Communications, the audit reveals that the firm was paid over GHS 15.7 million before its formal engagement in August 2019, and before the Public Procurement Authority approved the contract sum of GHS 5.85 million.
He further pointed out that the contract was awarded through sole sourcing, a method that under Ghanaian law requires strict justification.
“These actions clearly breach procurement procedures specified in Section 40(1) and (2) of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663), as amended by Act 914. They also raise serious concerns about transparency, value for money, and compliance with due process in the awarding and execution of public contracts.”
Hon. Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Presidential Spokesperson and Minister for Government Communications
The report also details how additional work by Adjaye, including a 350-seat restaurant, an extended museum, and a Bible Museum, was completed at a cost of over $12 million without formal contract variations.
These modifications, Hon. Kwakye Ofosu disclosed, were not captured in the original contract, representing a serious lapse in project governance.
Unlawful Payment
In another troubling case, payments to The Nehemiah Group continued even after the expiration of their one-year contract, which began on March 9, 2020.
Here, a total of $523,521.03 was paid without any renewal of agreement—“a clear violation of contract governance protocols,” according to the minister. The group also received $110,630.56 for fundraising events in Houston and New York that failed to yield any donations or investment.
The audit further reveals that during the same period, Kubik Maltbie, a subcontractor, was separately contracted for coordination services already assigned to The Nehemiah Group.
The duplication resulted in Kubik being paid $592,500—87% of the $675,000 received by Nehemiah—without clarity on who did what. “This apparent lack of clarity in defining responsibilities reflects badly on project oversight and resource management,” the minister lamented.
“Additionally, reimbursable expenses of USD 24,498.17 were paid to The Nehemiah Group for items entirely unrelated to construction oversight. These include costs beyond the scope of their engagement, further heightening concerns over inefficiency, accountability, and the effective use of public resources on this project.”
Hon. Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Presidential Spokesperson and Minister for Government Communications
Another case involves JNS Talent Centre Limited, a company owned by Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng, a member of the National Cathedral’s Board of Trustees.
In August 2021, the Secretariat requested a GHS 2.6 million loan from JNS. However, there was no loan agreement to outline repayment terms or interest rates, yet the money was later repaid using project funds.
The absence of documentation, Hon. Kwakye Ofosu said, raises “serious concerns about transparency, due diligence, and possible conflicts of interest.”
Irregularities in Donation Records
Irregularities in donation records also featured prominently. A total of GHS 38.2 million in mobile money transactions could not be reconciled due to failed or unverified transfers.
In addition, donation records for 2022 and 2023 were not provided, and internal audits revealed discrepancies of GHS 42,791 and GHS 72,944 in short code and Momo Pay receipts, respectively.
The report also found that the Procurement Committee established for the National Cathedral project did not comply with legal requirements. Its composition excluded key statutory members, and the roles of Chairperson and Secretary were improperly assigned, rendering its decisions legally questionable.
In the 2022 financial year, the audit exposed more worrying trends. These include unsupported expenditures like a GHS 18,500 hotel bill for Nehemiah’s Cary Summers, of which only GHS 4,976 was recorded, with no trace of the reported refund of GHS 13,524.
Also, a US trip by Rev. Kusi Boateng and Dr. Paul Opoku-Mensah cost $28,433.60, drawn from Fidelity Bank, only to be duplicated by a separate approval of $20,504.95 from the Chief of Staff days later.
In another case, a $17,000 accountable imprest was approved for accommodation and incidentals for two unnamed officials—again with no supporting documents.
A further GHS 20,000 was authorized by the Head of Operations for media engagement, but only GHS 14,700 was disbursed, with no record of how the rest was used or refunded. A GHS 117,180 payment to the Board Secretary for accommodation also lacked justification or documentation.
Presidential Actions
In light of these damning revelations, Hon. Kwakye Ofosu announced a series of government actions. Firstly, President John Dramani Mahama has directed that the National Cathedral Secretariat, which had been operating under the Office of the President, be dissolved as of May 1, 2025, adding that legal steps are also underway to dissolve the Board of Trustees.
Furthermore, the Deloitte report will be published in full for public scrutiny. Despite its damning findings, it does not cover the full scope of operations, Hon. Kwakye Ofosu warned, adding that the Auditor-General has been tasked with conducting a forensic audit into the project and Secretariat’s activities.
The Attorney General and Minister for Justice is taking steps to ensure the lawful termination of the contract to prevent further costs and losses to the state. Following the forensic audit, Hon. Kwakye Ofosu, noted that decisive action will be taken regarding any impropriety identified and the project’s future.
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