Mahama Ayariga, the Minister-designate for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, has pledged to mobilise funds for the construction of the abandoned National Cathedral if the project receives the backing of the Christian community and President John Dramani Mahama.
According to Mahama Ayariga, the National Cathedral was a good idea, but badly executed.
Appearing before Parliament’s Appointments Committee for his vetting as part of the process leading to his possible approval as Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, he stated, “I believe that Ghanaians are deeply religious even though constitutionally, we are regarded as a secular state. I believe that having cathedrals, church buildings, mosques and other worshipping centres are great and exciting things that enable the practice of religions.
“And so in my opinion, I don’t think there is anything wrong with having a national cathedral for the Christians of the country. And if you are talking about the National Cathedral that Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo initiated when he was president, I don’t see anything wrong with it. I think it was a good idea that was badly executed. I personally had issues with the location.”
“I want to assure this House that if I am approved, I will engage the leadership of the Christian Community and if they want to still have it, I will engage with the President and if it is his wish, I will mobilise funds [for] its construction,” he said.
In the meantime, the long-awaited forensic audit report into the National Cathedral project has been completed and submitted to the Attorney General for review.
Dr Dominic Ayine, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, has said the John Mahama government should complete Agenda 111 rather than spend money on the National Cathedral.
According to the Attorney General, the Akufo-Addo government could have used funds committed to the National Cathedral to complete some Agenda 111 hospital projects.
Speaking during the district launch of the Free Primary Health Care programme in the Bolga East Constituency in the Upper East Region on Thursday, August 13, 2026, Dr Ayinr stated, “…I have been on the neck of my colleague, the Health Minister, to ensure that it is completed. Today, I have to compel him by the powers vested in me as Attorney General of the Republic to disclose to me the list of districts that have been included in the Agenda 111 completion project programme, and when he asked his people to pull it up there, Bolga East, Zuarungu was listed on it”.
“Mr President, it is better to complete Agenda 111 than to spend money on a National Cathedral,” he said.
He further disclosed that he has a report prepared by audit and consulting firm PwC on the National Cathedral, adding that the findings had reinforced his concerns about the resources committed to the project.
Dr Ayine questioned the manner in which the National Cathedral project was undertaken, arguing that the construction of a religious facility should have taken a different approach.
“The PwC report on the National Cathedral was presented to me last Friday. The monies spent on the National Cathedral from that report could have been used to complete some Agenda 111 Hospitals.
“You don’t build a house of God in the manner in which they went about it,” he said.
@ghnow_ President Mahama cuts sod to officially break ground for new airport car park and hotel complex #GHNow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
@ghnow_ President Mahama cuts sod to officially break ground for new airport car park and hotel complex #GHNow #fyp ♬ original sound – NDCMUSICHQ
