Mahama Pushes for Transparency with Forensic Audit Directive
President John Dramani Mahama has initiated a forensic audit into National Cathedral Secretariat operations, reinforcing his administration’s commitment to transparency and financial accountability. At a press briefing held at Jubilee House, Minister of State for Government Communication, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, announced that the Secretariat was officially dissolved in May 2025. This move is part of broader reforms to restructure oversight of the controversial National Cathedral project.
Board of Trustees Set for Dissolution
Following troubling revelations from an earlier audit conducted by Deloitte and Touche, the Attorney General has been directed to begin legal proceedings to dissolve the Board of Trustees overseeing the Cathedral’s construction. The Minister labeled the audit’s findings as “damning” and pledged to publish the complete report for public scrutiny.
Millions in Consultancy Payments Disputed
One of the most alarming audit findings involves a payment discrepancy of GH¢4.9 million between what the Office of the President recorded as paid to Sir David Adjaye & Associates Ltd. and what the firm claims it received. Official records confirm payments totaling GH¢113,040,564.86, while the consultancy firm reports receiving GH¢117,972,656.00.
This sum includes GH¢87,938,750.00 paid by the Ministry of Finance between September 2018 and November 2019. In addition, GH¢30,033,906.00 was transferred from the Office of the President during early 2021.
The Nehemiah Group Also Under Review
Similar inconsistencies were found in transactions with another consultant, The Nehemiah Group. While government records show a payment of $4,281,702.59, the company claims it received $4,341,702.59. Even more concerning is the mismatch in reported outstanding balances. The government estimates $1.85 million remains unpaid, yet Nehemiah states the outstanding balance is only $155,616.23—a near $1.7 million variance.
Legal Action and Contract Terminations Underway
Minister Kwakye Ofosu stressed that these gaps in financial reporting expose major weaknesses in contract management and payment oversight. The Attorney General has also instructed the termination of all active contracts linked to the Cathedral project. This step aims to prevent further misuse of public funds during the ongoing investigation.
Rebuilding Trust Through Accountability
This forensic audit into National Cathedral Secretariat operations comes in response to persistent public criticism over the project’s financial integrity. By initiating this audit and committing to publish the findings, President Mahama’s ad
For more details, visit the original report on MyJoyOnline.
