Ghana’s National Cathedral halted as government moves to terminate project in Accra

The fate of Ghana’s long-planned National Cathedral has taken a dramatic turn. On 18 July 2025, the government announced that it would dissolve the body overseeing the project. This followed an audit revealing major financial and procedural failings.

A vision of unity now in doubt

Unveiled in 2017 by former president Nana Akufo-Addo, the cathedral was intended as a national symbol of faith and unity. Designed by British-Ghanaian architect Sir David Adjaye, the $400m complex was to rise on nine acres near Osu Cemetery. It was set to feature chapels, a baptistery, a 5,000-seat auditorium, a Bible museum, and landscaped gardens.

Construction started in 2019, but six years on, the progress has been minimal. A report issued in July confirmed that only 8% of the project is complete, despite $97m already spent.

Audit sparks decisive action

President John Mahama, in office since January 2025, ordered the review soon after taking power. The Deloitte audit of the project’s secretariat, covering the years 2021–2023, found “financial irregularities, procurement breaches, and a lack of due process.”

The response was swift:

• The government officially dissolved the secretariat on 1 May 2025.
• The auditor-general launched a forensic audit.
• The attorney general began steps to terminate the contract.

Government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu said the audit’s conclusions “strike at the foundation of the project and raise serious questions about the use of public funds.”

Spotlight on consultants and contracts

The presidency also pointed to concerns about the project’s consultants and contractors. These included Adjaye Associates, US-based The Nehemiah Group, and main contractor Ribade JV.

A particular issue was an “unexplained” difference of around US$452,000 in reported consultancy fees to Adjaye Associates. The firm, however, stated that the figures are consistent when combining payments. These payments were from both the president’s office and the Ministry of Finance.

In a statement to the press, Adjaye Associates emphasized: “All funds were within the scope of the contract, and there has been no misallocation.”

A project mired in controversy

The National Cathedral was contentious from the start. In a country where more than 70% of the population identifies as Christian, the project was promoted as a sacred national space. Yet critics argued it was misplaced spending in a time of economic hardship. This included fragile banks and increasing taxes.

Today, what was once billed as a unifying monument now risks being remembered as a cautionary tale. It was a project launched with high hopes but derailed by financial mismanagement and political change.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

The article on Ghana’s National Cathedral outlines a project conceived as a monumental space for unity and spirituality. Renders show expansive landscaped grounds and monumental forms shaped in stone and glass. The visual ambition suggests cultural identity expressed through monumental scale. However, the spatial narrative feels underdeveloped, offering little insight into user experience. It also lacks contextual relevance within Accra’s urban and social fabric. While the audit findings dominate the story, the architectural reading remains secondary. Still, documenting such projects provides critical lessons for future governance. It’s about aligning architectural vision with socio-economic realities.

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