This clarification follows an emergency board meeting held on July 7, 2025, in response to growing public concern over claims circulating in online media.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, July 9, the Executive Director of the National Cathedral, Dr. Paul Opoku-Mensah, emphasized that no government agency has officially communicated any change in the project’s purpose.

“The National Cathedral project has not been abandoned, nor has there been any official decision to convert the site into a Cultural Convention Centre,” the statement asserted. “The site remains legally held by the National Cathedral of Ghana, incorporated as a company limited by guarantee, with all architectural and design plans tailored specifically for its current religious and cultural vision.”

Dr. Opoku-Mensah reaffirmed that the Cathedral was conceived as a sacred national structure to host key religious state events such as state funerals and national thanksgiving services. He added that the President’s recent declaration of July 1 as Ghana’s official National Day of Prayer underscores the importance and urgency of completing the project.

In addition to its religious function, the Cathedral is designed to serve as a cultural and heritage landmark. Planned facilities include a Bible Museum, Biblical Garden, banquet hall, 350-seater restaurant, library, and conference centre — all aimed at promoting faith-based tourism and national pride.

According to the Board, approximately 8% of construction had been completed before the project was halted due to funding constraints and the politicization of the initiative, which hindered private fundraising efforts.

Responding to concerns about financial transparency, the Board cited an audit by Deloitte and Touche, which confirmed that all public funds allocated to the project were accounted for, with disbursements based solely on signed contracts and verified work.

Looking ahead, the Board revealed that discussions are underway to adopt a new approach to completing the project. This strategy involves fostering collaboration between the state, the church, and civil society to depoliticize the initiative and mobilize the necessary resources.

“The Board remains fully committed to the vision of the National Cathedral,” Dr. Opoku-Mensah concluded, “not only as a national place of worship and unity for the Christian community, but also as an interfaith and cultural space for all Ghanaians.”

The Secretariat urged the public to disregard misinformation and to support ongoing efforts to deliver what it describes as a “family house for all Christians” and a unifying national symbol.