President John Dramani Mahama has ordered the immediate dissolution of the Board of Trustees overseeing Ghana's controversial National Cathedral project, formally ending the board's role in managing the stalled development.

The decision was communicated in a letter dated September 18, 2026, signed by Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Mahama Ayariga.

The trustees have also been directed to work with the project consultant and formally hand over the National Cathedral project site to the Ministry by October 31.

The government says taking control of the site will allow it to determine the future of a project that has been at the centre of years of debate over public spending, procurement, accountability and its unfinished state.

BOARD DISSOLVED IMMEDIATELY

The directive was addressed to the board chaired by Apostle Professor Opoku Onyinah.

The letter formally ends the trustees' mandate and requires them to begin the process of transferring control of the project site to the government.

Copies of the directive were sent to senior officials including the Secretary to the President and the Chief of Staff at Jubilee House.

Ayariga, speaking on behalf of the President, thanked the outgoing trustees for their service and commitment to promoting the Christian faith in Ghana.

OCTOBER 31 DEADLINE FOR HANDOVER

The dissolved board has until October 31 to complete the formal handover of the project site.

The trustees have been instructed to liaise with the project consultant during the process.

The Ministry says taking possession of the site is necessary before the government determines what should happen to the unfinished development.

The latest directive provides formal written notice after the government announced plans in 2025 to dissolve the National Cathedral Secretariat and begin the process of disbanding the Board of Trustees.

PROJECT HAS FACED YEARS OF CONTROVERSY

The National Cathedral was initiated under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo and was intended to become a major national Christian landmark.

However, construction stalled after substantial public expenditure had already been committed to the project.

The development subsequently became the subject of intense political and public debate over its financing, procurement processes, management and the use of taxpayer funds.

Questions surrounding the project continued after Mahama returned to office.

His administration ordered further examination of the project's finances and operations.

FORENSIC AUDIT COMPLETED

Mahama disclosed earlier this month that a forensic audit into the National Cathedral project had been completed and submitted to the Attorney General.

The President said the findings would also be made available to the Christian Council of Ghana as discussions continue over the future of the project.

The audit followed an earlier review that raised concerns about financial management, procurement and due process surrounding the project.

The government has said accountability issues arising from the project should be addressed separately from discussions about whether a National Cathedral should eventually be completed.

MAHAMA QUESTIONS TAXPAYER FUNDING

Mahama has said he is not opposed to the idea of a National Cathedral but does not believe taxpayers should finance the project.

Speaking during a recent engagement in the Upper West Region, the President described the cathedral as a personal pledge made by former President Akufo Addo rather than a national policy his administration was automatically required to continue.

Mahama has suggested that Ghana's Christian community could mobilise private funding if it decides the cathedral should be completed.

He has also raised concerns about the current location of the project.

CHRISTIAN COUNCIL CONSIDERS WAY FORWARD

The Christian Council of Ghana has established a technical committee to examine possible options for the National Cathedral.

The committee is expected to consider funding, location and other practical issues before submitting recommendations to the government.

Those recommendations could become important as the Mahama administration determines what happens to the site after the trustees complete the handover.

The government has not yet announced whether the existing cathedral design will be completed, modified, relocated or abandoned.

The dissolution of the board therefore closes one chapter in the National Cathedral controversy while leaving the project's ultimate future unresolved.