The site earmarked for the construction 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, disclosed this on Monday, October 5, 2026, at the Government Accountability Series.
Mr Ayariga said the contractor had been directed to hand over the National Cathedral site to his ministry, which will retain control of the property until the government determines the future of the project.
Also read: Nigeria NYSC abductions: Bombs preventing rescue of kidnapped youths, Imo police say
He explained that the decision is necessary because the National Cathedral site is state property and the government must determine the appropriate next steps after receiving legal 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 government directive,” he said.
Mr Ayariga said the government would not make a final decision on the future of the National Cathedral until the Attorney-General had reviewed a forensic audit into expenditure associated with the initial plans for the project under the administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
He said the Attorney-General’s advice would guide the government on what action should be taken regarding the project and the expenditure identified by the audit.
“After the Attorney-General has reviewed the forensic audit that has been conducted into the expenditures related to the initial plans to construct a National Cathedral by President Akufo-Addo, based on the Attorney-General’s advice, we would know what the next steps are,” Mr Ayariga said.
The development comes after the government announced that it would not commit further public funds to the construction of the National Cathedral.
Mr Ayariga said the decision also meant that the existing Board of Trustees, which was established to oversee the project, was no longer necessary in its current form.
“And so I have sent the letter to the board members informing them that they have been dissolved,” he said.
President John Dramani Mahama directed the immediate dissolution of the Board of Trustees in September, with the trustees subsequently instructed to work with the project consultant to facilitate the handover of the site to the ministry.
The government said the takeover would allow it to determine the future of the National Cathedral project.
Mr Ayariga reiterated that, for now, the site would remain under the supervision of the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs pending the Attorney-General’s advice.
“But for now, the Board of Trustees stands dissolved, and the site reverts to the Ministry of Local Government,” he said.