Christians can fund National Cathedral, not taxpayers’ money – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has reiterated that taxpayers’ money will not be used to fund the completion of the National Cathedral, challenging Christians in Ghana to mobilise resources to finish the project.

Speaking during a citizens’ engagement in Wa as part of his Resetting Ghana Tour of the Upper West Region, President Mahama said he had no objection to Ghana having a National Cathedral but maintained that public funds should not be used for its construction.

According to him, Ghana’s large Christian population has the capacity to raise the resources needed to complete the project.

“We shouldn’t use taxpayers’ money. How many Christians are there in this country? We all pay a thousand cedis each. We should be able to construct a National Cathedral.”

President Mahama also pointed to the possibility of support from Christian organisations outside Ghana, saying the Christian community could mobilise resources locally and internationally.

He cited the National Mosque as an example, noting that its construction received support from a Turkish Muslim organisation rather than government funding. (

The President further maintained that the National Cathedral was not a government policy inherited by his administration but a personal pledge made by former President Nana Akufo-Addo.

He also disclosed that the forensic audit into the expenditure on the project, which he said amounted to almost $90 million, was ready and with the Attorney-General.

Mahama said a copy of the audit would be made available to the Christian Council to enable Christian leaders to examine how the funds were spent and determine possible corrective action.

The comments come as the Christian Council of Ghana has established a technical committee to examine the future of the stalled project, including funding and its location. The committee has been given one month to develop recommendations.