Sir David Adjaye was the lead architect for the botched National Cathedral project
The Minister of State in Charge of Communication, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has disclosed that an audit conducted by Deloitte and Touche into the National Cathedral project uncovered a wrongful payment of GH¢4.9 million to Sir David Adjaye and Associates.
Addressing the press on Friday, July 18, 2025, Kwakye Ofosu stated that while the Office of the President confirms a total payment of GH¢113,040,564 to the architectural firm, Sir David Adjaye and Associates reported receiving GH¢117,972,656, resulting in a discrepancy of GH¢4.9 million.
“Payment records show that GH¢87,938,750 was paid by the Ministry of Finance between September 26, 2018, and November 25, 2019. Subsequently, the Office of the President made two payments, GH¢29,654,845.29 on February 19, 2021, and GH¢369,060 on March 5, 2021, bringing the Presidency’s total contribution to GH¢30,033,906. Combined, these payments amount to the GH¢117,972,656 reported by the firm,” he noted.
The Minister also clarified that the total cost incurred on the project so far stands at $97 million, significantly higher than the widely quoted $58 million.
He explained that available evidence indicates an outstanding amount of $39 million owed to the contractor, in addition to the funds already disbursed.
“Contrary to the widely held view that total payments and contributions to the National Cathedral project amount to $58 million, there is, in fact, an outstanding payment of $39 million to the contractor. When added, this brings the total cost incurred so far, just for the hole that currently sits at the project site, to $97 million,” Kwakye Ofosu emphasised.
The project was conceived in 2017 by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as a national place of worship and a symbol of unity, thanksgiving, and reconciliation.
However, the project has long been marred by allegations of corruption and mismanagement. President John Dramani Mahama has since directed the Auditor-General to pursue a forensic audit to establish grounds for possible prosecutions.
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