National Cathedral Project Reportedly Owes Contractors $39 Million at Current Stage

The controversial National Cathedral project is reportedly facing significant financial difficulties, with sources indicating that the state currently owes contractors $39 million for work done on the stalled religious infrastructure.

Despite the government having already disbursed over GH¢339 million (approximately \$58 million) since 2020 toward the project, progress has slowed considerably, and contractors are said to be demanding outstanding payments for services rendered.

The revelation has reignited public debate over the project’s transparency, financial management, and overall viability. Critics argue that the ballooning costs and growing debts confirm long-standing concerns about fiscal irresponsibility and a lack of clear accountability in the handling of state funds.

Construction of the National Cathedral—initially projected to cost around $100 million—has encountered repeated delays, legal controversies, and questions surrounding procurement processes. A recent report by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) cited violations of procurement laws in the awarding of a $312 million contract to Ribade Company Ltd, branding the contract “void ab initio.”

Additionally, the audit firm Deloitte Ghana recently confirmed that while financial records for the period ending 2020 were intact, subsequent years remain under scrutiny, with expectations of a full forensic audit to be initiated by the government.

The Attorney-General has already expressed interest in probing the management of funds linked to the project, while President John Dramani Mahama’s administration has pledged to reassess the project’s direction under the Reset Agenda.

If confirmed, the reported $39 million debt to contractors could have far-reaching implications, not just for the future of the Cathedral but for public trust in national infrastructure projects and fiscal governance.

With growing pressure from civil society, Parliament, and religious leaders, stakeholders await clarity on how and when the government intends to settle these debts—or whether the project will be paused indefinitely pending full financial and legal review.