National Cathedral site reverts to government as Attorney-General reviews audit

The site of the National Cathedral has been handed back to the government as the administration awaits the Attorney-General's review of a forensic audit into expenditure on the project, Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Mahama Ayariga has said.

Mr Ayariga said the contractor had been instructed to hand over the site to his ministry, which will retain control of the property until the government decides on the project's future based on advice from the Attorney-General.

“Given that the National Cathedral is a property of the Government of Ghana, I’ve also directed the contractor to hand over the site to the Minister of Local Government and Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, awaiting Federal government directive,” he said.

Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, October 5, 2026, the minister said the Attorney-General was expected to examine the forensic audit covering expenditure incurred in connection with the previous administration's plans to construct the National Cathedral.

“After the Attorney General has reviewed the audit that has been conducted, the forensic audit that has been conducted into the expenditures related to the initial plans to construct a national Cathedral by President Akufo-Addo and then based on the Attorney General’s advice, we would know what the next steps are,” he said.

The development comes after the government's decision not to commit additional public funds to the construction of the National Cathedral and the subsequent dissolution of its Board of Trustees.

Mr Ayariga said he had formally notified members of the board of the decision, explaining that the board was no longer required because the government had decided against continuing to finance the project.

“And so I have sent the letter to the board members informing them that they have been dissolved,” he said.

He said the government's position on the future of the site would be determined after the Attorney-General completes the review of the forensic audit.

“But for now, the Board of Trustees stands dissolved, and the site reverts to the Ministry of Local Government,” he said.