National Cathedral Board Denies Plans to Convert Site into Cultural Convention Centre

National Cathedral Board Denies Plans to Convert Site into Cultural Convention Centre

 The Board of Directors of the National Cathedral of Ghana has refuted media reports suggesting the controversial project is being converted into a Cultural Convention Centre, emphasizing that no such official communication or confirmation has been received.

In a statement released following an emergency meeting held on July 7, 2025, the Board clarified that the project remains a sacred national infrastructure designed to host formal state religious events, such as State Funerals, National Thanksgiving Services, and the newly instituted National Day of Prayer declared by the President.

“The National Cathedral was proposed to provide a sacred infrastructure for the formal religious activities of state,” the statement read, adding that the integration of a Bible Museum and other cultural elements underscores its role as both a religious and heritage site.

The Board also noted that the land for the project was legally transferred to the National Cathedral of Ghana, a company limited by guarantee. Detailed architectural designs—including a 350-seater restaurant, banquet hall, conference facility, and library—have already been completed, with preparatory work done on-site.

Construction officially began in 2021, with about 8% completed before work was halted. The Board cited inadequate funds and the politicization of the project as major factors affecting progress.

Contrary to public perception, the statement asserted that the National Cathedral is not an abandoned project. An audit conducted by Deloitte and Touche confirmed that all state funds disbursed were used in accordance with contractual agreements and for completed work.

The Board expressed its ongoing commitment to completing the project, calling for a new approach rooted in accountability, depoliticization, and a public-private financing partnership.

“The Board remains fully committed to this process and to the completion of this critical infrastructure, which will serve as an interdenominational sacred space and a ‘family house’—a unifying platform for all Ghanaians of the Christian faith, as well as an interreligious space for the broader Ghanaian community,” said Paul Opoku-Mensah, Executive Director of the National Cathedral of Ghana.

The fate of the National Cathedral has been the subject of intense public debate, with growing calls for transparency and reassessment of its purpose amid economic challenges. The Board’s latest statement aims to dispel rumors and reaffirm its vision for the multi-purpose religious and cultural complex.