Ghana’s new President, John Mahama, has announced plans to investigate the controversial National Cathedral project, which has been marred by allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement.
The project, initiated by former President Nana Akufo-Addo, aimed to build a $400m national cathedral in Accra, but has been criticized for its high cost and lack of transparency.
Despite initial claims that the project would be privately funded, $58m of taxpayers’ money has already been spent, with little to show for it except a massive crater on the construction site.
The project has sparked widespread debate, with many Ghanaians questioning its priority amidst the country’s economic crisis.
President Mahama has promised to activate an investigation into the project, following a directive from the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).
He also hinted at the possibility of revising the project’s scope and cost, saying, “We can reach a more reasonable figure for achieving such a project and together we can raise the funding for it.”
Meanwhile, Ghana’s new Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson, has indicated that public funding for the project will be halted, citing the need to “cut off wasteful expenditure.” Ghana is currently grappling with its worst economic crisis in a generation, with inflation still high at 23.8% despite a $3bn bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last year.
