GHANA: President Mahama to probe former president’s huge project

Ghana’s newly elected President John Mahama has announced plans to investigate his predecessor’s contested $400 million National Cathedral project, a stalled religious landmark that for critics become a symbol of fiscal irresponsibility. Mahama and his National Democratic Congress or NDC party easily won the December election after voters punished President Nana Akufo-Addo and his ruling […]

Ghana’s newly elected President John Mahama has announced plans to investigate his predecessor’s contested $400 million National Cathedral project, a stalled religious landmark that for critics become a symbol of fiscal irresponsibility.

Mahama and his National Democratic Congress or NDC party easily won the December election after voters punished President Nana Akufo-Addo and his ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) for economic mismanagement and high living costs.

The National Cathedral, envisioned by Akufo-Addo as a tribute to God for his 2016 electoral victory, was initially billed as a privately funded initiative. But allegations that $58 million in public funds had been spent – and charges of financial impropriety – sparked public outrage.

Ghana’s Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) late last year had recommended an audit of the project, citing procurement breaches.

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“We will soon activate such an investigation,” Mahama said at a Thanksgiving service this week. While he did not rule out completing the cathedral, he hinted at a more modest approach, noting, “any decisions moving forward will prioritise accountability and national interest”.