Mahama Dissolves National Cathedral Board

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Accra, Ghana — September 19, 2026: President John Dramani Mahama has ordered the immediate dissolution of the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral of Ghana, bringing the board’s role in overseeing the long-running project to an end.

The decision was communicated in a letter dated September 18, 2026, and signed by Mahama Ayariga, Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs. The trustees have also been directed to formally hand over the National Cathedral project site to the ministry by October 31, 2026.

The development represents a significant new stage in the government’s handling of the National Cathedral project, which has remained stalled amid prolonged questions over its construction, financing, administration and future.

The ministry said the handover of the site would enable the government to determine what happens to the project next.

President Mahama orders immediate dissolution

The letter addressed to the chairman and members of the board stated that President Mahama had directed the dissolution of the Board of Trustees with immediate effect.

The board was chaired by Apostle Professor Opoku Onyinah.

Under the directive, the trustees are expected to work with the project’s consultant to complete the formal handover process before the October 31 deadline.

The instruction effectively ends the board’s role in overseeing the National Cathedral project.

The government has not yet announced a final decision on whether the existing structure will be completed, redesigned, transferred to another arrangement or used for another purpose.

Instead, the immediate priority is the formal transfer of responsibility for the project site to the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.

What happens to the National Cathedral project now?

The most immediate question following the dissolution is what the government intends to do with the National Cathedral site.

The ministry’s letter states that taking possession of the site will allow the government to determine the future of the project.

That leaves several important issues to be resolved, including the condition of the existing construction, outstanding contractual matters, the project’s finances and whether construction should continue.

For many Ghanaians, the future of the National Cathedral has become closely linked to broader questions about the use of public resources and the role of religious institutions in financing major national projects.

The latest decision does not, by itself, provide a final answer on the future of the building.

Instead, it creates a new administrative framework under which the government will take control of the site and assess the way forward.

Why the decision is significant

The National Cathedral project has been one of Ghana’s most closely watched public infrastructure initiatives in recent years.

It was originally presented as a national interdenominational Christian project intended to provide a major centre for Christian worship, conferences and other activities.

However, the project has faced prolonged controversy over its financing and administration.

The debate intensified after investigations and official reviews raised questions about aspects of the project’s management.

The government’s latest move therefore goes beyond a routine administrative change.

It marks a formal shift in responsibility from the existing trustees towards direct government consideration of the project’s future.

According to reporting by MyJoyOnline, the government had already announced in 2025 that it intended to dissolve the National Cathedral Secretariat and begin processes to disband the Board of Trustees. However, the latest letter provides formal written communication directing the trustees to leave their positions and hand over the site.

Government thanks trustees

Despite the decision to dissolve the board, the government has expressed appreciation to the trustees for their service.

In the letter, Minister Mahama Ayariga conveyed President Mahama’s thanks to the board members for their commitment to promoting the Christian faith in Ghana.

The wording indicates that the government’s decision is being presented as an administrative transition rather than a rejection of the religious objectives associated with the project.

The focus now is on transferring responsibility for the site and determining what should happen next.

National Cathedral financing remains a major issue

One of the biggest questions surrounding the project is how any future development would be financed.

President Mahama has previously argued that public funds should not be used to finance the construction of the National Cathedral, saying Christians could contribute towards the project.

That position has formed part of the wider debate about whether taxpayers’ money should be committed to the project.

The dissolution of the trustees does not automatically resolve those financing questions.

Any decision to restart, restructure or complete construction would likely require further clarification about the project’s ownership, funding arrangements, contractual obligations and governance.

Those issues are expected to remain central as the government reviews the project.

A project surrounded by years of debate

The National Cathedral was conceived as a major national religious landmark.

Plans for the project attracted support from sections of Ghana’s Christian community, while critics questioned the use of state resources and aspects of the project’s administration.

The project subsequently became the subject of investigations and political debate.

The latest government action comes after years of uncertainty over its status.

The board’s formal dissolution now provides a clear administrative endpoint for the existing trustees.

However, the physical future of the National Cathedral remains unresolved.

October 31 deadline

The October 31 handover deadline is likely to become an important date in the next stage of the project.

The trustees have been instructed to liaise with the project consultant and formally transfer the site to the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.

Once that process is completed, the government will have direct responsibility for determining the next steps.

The ministry has indicated that the takeover is necessary to enable it to assess the future of the project.

This could involve an assessment of the existing construction and associated assets before any decision is made.

What Ghanaians will be watching

Several questions are now likely to dominate public discussion.

Will construction resume?

The government has not announced that construction will restart. The immediate decision is to take control of the site and determine the project’s future.

Who will finance the project?

Funding remains one of the central issues. Any future construction would require clarity over where the money would come from.

What happens to the existing structure?

The government has not yet announced whether the current structure will be completed in its existing form or whether the project will be modified.

What happens after October 31?

The October 31 deadline is specifically linked to the handover of the project site. Further government decisions are expected after responsibility has been transferred.

A new chapter for the National Cathedral

President Mahama’s decision to dissolve the Board of Trustees marks a significant turning point for Ghana’s National Cathedral project.

For years, the project has occupied an unusual position at the intersection of religion, politics, public finance and national development.

The immediate consequence of the latest directive is clear: the existing Board of Trustees will no longer oversee the project, and the site is expected to be handed over to the government by October 31.

What remains uncertain is what the government will ultimately decide to do with the project.

The coming weeks could therefore be crucial as officials examine the site’s status, outstanding obligations and possible options for its future.

For now, the government has stopped short of announcing a final outcome for the National Cathedral itself.

Instead, it has taken the first formal step towards assuming control of the stalled project and deciding what comes next.

The October 31 handover deadline is now the next major milestone to watch.

Nukunya will continue to follow developments surrounding the National Cathedral project and report further updates as the government announces its next steps.