President John Dramani Mahama has ordered a forensic audit by the Auditor-General into the Deloitte and Touche audit report on the National Cathedral Project.
Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Presidential Spokesman and Minister of State in-charge of Government Communications, said the
Deloitte and Touche audit findings shake the very foundation of the project and the Secretariat’s work, raising fundamental questions about the use of public funds.
Speaking to the Presidential Press Corps at the Presidency in Accra, Mr Ofosu said contrary to the widely held view that total payments and commitments to the National Cathedral Project amount to $58 million so far, there was an additional outstanding payment of $39 million due to the contractor.
“This will bring the total cost incurred for the hole at the project site to $97 million.” The Minister said.
He noted that additionally, due to the lopsided nature of the contract, additional costs continue to accrue daily, despite the project having ceased work years ago.
He said consequently, President Mahama had directed that the National Cathedral Secretariat, which had been operating under the Office of the President, was dissolved as of May 1, 2025.
He said the President had directed the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice to take legal steps to dissolve the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral.
He said the Deloitte and Touche audit report should be published for review.
He said despite the damning findings contained in the Deloitte audit report; it does not cover the full scope of operations of the National Cathedral Secretariat and the project itself.
Mr Ofosu said the Auditor-General had therefore been requested to commission a forensic audit into the National Cathedral Project and the activities of the Secretariat.
It said the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice were taking steps to ensure the contract’s lawful termination to prevent further costs and losses to the state.
He noted that following the forensic audit, decisive action would be taken regarding any impropriety identified and the project’s future.
GNA
