Why gov’t can’t dissolve National Cathedral board – Lawyer

Gertrude Okyere — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 08:40:10 +0000

A legal representative of the National Cathedral Board of Trustees, Charles J. Owusu, has reiterated that Ghana’s National Cathedral was legally registered as a company limited by guarantee and was not a state entity.

He said based on this legal status, it is governed under the Companies Act, not by public service regulations or Cabinet decisions.

“This structure means the board cannot just be dissolved by the government. That power lies only with the courts,” he said.

At a press conference in Accra on Thursday, Mr. Owusu defended the trustees against accusations of financial wrongdoing by Government Spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu.

The legal representative Charles Owusu said the trustees, who are mainly leaders in Ghana’s main Christian denominations, were being unfairly targeted by politicians.

He said that was why he was stepping in to defend the religious leaders on the board due to their clerical roles.

Call for support

He called on Christians to support the Cathedral project, saying government funds would be no longer needed if believers come together to support it.

He also appealed to President John Mahama to either support the project’s completion or allow the board to independently seek funding.

“If you cannot help, do not block others from helping. Let us build our cathedral,” he said.

Mr Owusu called on politicians and critics to stop what he described as misinformation and give the trustees a fair hearing.

“If there is wrongdoing, let it be proven in court. But if not, stop dragging men of God into public ridicule,” he said.

Full audit report made no accusations of embezzlement

On the recent claims of financial mismanagement following the Government Spokesperson’s press conference, Mr Owusu said the allegations were based on a management letter by the project’s auditors and not the final audit report.

He explained that a management letter is only a working document with queries that must be answered before the final report is completed.

He added that the full audit report never accused the trustees of embezzlement and insisted all necessary supporting documents were later submitted to the auditors.

“The politician in question used only the questions raised without waiting for the responses,” he said.

Payments and contracts

Responding to claims about payments made before contracts were signed, Mr Owusu said the President at the time, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo made advance payments to consultants before the official formation of the board of trustees and that according to the President was to ensure progress on the project.

He explained that the consultant in question, who received $15.7 million, was appointed by the presidency and not the board of trustees.

“The then President decided the Jubilee House would oversee the employment of the consultant and caused payments to be made before the board was inaugurated,” he said.

MoMo platform

On the failed mobile money donations for the Cathedral project, he said the issue arose from a technical fault with the ADB Bank platform, not the trustees.

He insisted the money never reached the Cathedral’s account and should not be linked to any wrongdoing.

He also defended a short-term loan of GH¢ 2.6 million from JNS Talent, a company owned by the Cathedral’s former Executive Secretary.

According to him, the money was given at a time when the project lacked funds and has since been refunded.
“When he gave the money, it was all documented. But when he was being paid back, that was twisted in the media,” he said.

Structure exists

Touching on claims that the Cathedral site was nothing more than a large hole despite the reported expenditure of GH¢ 97 million, Mr Owusu called on critics and journalists to visit the site.

He said extensive underground work had already been completed, including 25 metres of concrete and foundational preparations.

“All the architectural drawings, museum plans, and structural work have been completed. What is left is to lift the structure,” he said.

Graphic.com.gh

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The Board of Directors of the National Cathedral of Ghana has refuted claims suggesting that the state-designated site for the cathedral project is being converted into a Cultural Convention Centre.

In a statement signed by the Executive Director, Dr. Paul Opoku-Mensah, the Board clarified that no government agency has officially communicated any change in the project’s purpose.

This follows an emergency board meeting held on July 7, 2025.

“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 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,” the statement read.

The Board reiterated that the project remains a sacred national symbol, intended to host major religious state functions such as national thanksgiving services and state funerals.

Beyond its spiritual significance, the cathedral is envisioned as a landmark cultural and heritage site. Planned features include a Bible Museum, Biblical Garden, banquet hall, a 350-seat restaurant, library, and conference centre—all designed to promote faith-based tourism and Ghanaian national identity.

According to the statement, approximately 8% of construction had been completed before the project stalled. The delay was attributed to funding challenges and increasing politicisation, which discouraged private donations.

On matters of accountability, the Board referred to an audit conducted by Deloitte and Touche, which confirmed that all public funds allocated to the project were used appropriately, with disbursements made only after verification and under formal contracts.

Looking ahead, the Board said it is considering a revised approach to complete the project through a partnership involving government, the church, and civil society—aimed at reducing political tensions and mobilising the necessary resources.

Dr. Opoku-Mensah noted that the President’s recent declaration of July 1 as Ghana’s official National Day of Prayer reinforces the relevance and urgency of completing the cathedral.

“The Board remains fully committed to the vision of the National Cathedral,” he stated, “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 support ongoing efforts to deliver what it describes as a “family house for all Christians” and a unifying national monument.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the People’s National Party (PNP), Janet Nabla, has threatened to sue the Mahama-led government over what she claims is a deviation from the original purpose of the project.

Source: Adomonline.com

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Why gov’t can’t dissolve National Cathedral board – Lawyer

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