Building a cathedral at $400m when Ghana is struggling makes no sense – Mahama

 

President John Dramani Mahama has expressed strong reservations about the ongoing construction of the National Cathedral, criticising its $400 million price tag as unjustifiable given Ghana’s current economic struggles.

He described the project as an ill-advised use of resources, especially at a time when the country faces significant financial challenges.

Speaking at a Christian National Prayer and Thanksgiving Service held on Sunday, January 12, 2025, at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), President Mahama called for a reassessment of the project’s future and suggested that alternative approaches be considered to achieve such a national monument without burdening the public purse.

The President drew comparisons between Ghana’s National Cathedral project and Nigeria’s National Ecumenical Center in Abuja, emphasizing the stark difference in cost.

According to President Mahama, the Ecumenical Center, which serves as a place of worship for all Christian denominations in Nigeria, was constructed for $30 million which he said is a fraction of the proposed $400 million budget for Ghana’s cathedral.

“On the future of the project, the National Cathedral, I believe that all of us as Christians must forge a consensus on how to achieve such a project without recourse to public funds. This project must be achieved at a reasonable cost.

“In the current circumstances that Ghana is going through, it makes no sense to achieve such a project a whooping sum of $400 million dollars. I am informed that the National Ecumenical Center in Abuja, which is used by all Christian faiths in Nigeria, was built for $30 million.”

The National Cathedral, originally proposed under the administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, was envisioned as a monumental Christian worship centre in Ghana.

The project has, however, faced persistent challenges, including funding shortfalls, construction delays, and widespread criticism from various quarters.

Critics have long argued that the use of state funds for the cathedral contradicts the principles of secular governance and the separation of religion from state affairs.