International News
Ghana To Probe Former President’s Huge Cathedral Project
unds 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 into the project, citing procurement breaches.
“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”.
Set on a 23,000 square metre site in the heart of Accra, the cathedral was designed to include a 5,000-seat auditorium, chapels, a baptistery, a choir school, an art gallery, and multipurpose spaces.
But three years after construction stalled, the site remains a gaping crater. Some argue the project contributed to the electoral defeat of Akufo-Addo and his NPP party in December.
‘Restoring public trust’
“This cathedral represents everything wrong with governance – opaque processes, lack of accountability, and misplaced priorities,” said Emmanuel Wilson Jnr, a campaigner with Crusaders Against Corruption.
“Investigating this project isn’t just about the money; it’s about restoring public trust in government.”
The project’s suspension comes as Ghana struggles with an economic crisis exacerbated by high inflation, mounting debt, and a reliance on a $3 billion IMF bailout to stabilise the economy.
New Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson recently told Parliament that public funding for the cathedral had been halted as part of broader efforts to curb wasteful expenditure.
“The government cannot justify pouring scarce resources into an unfinished project when Ghanaians are struggling to afford basic necessities,” he said.
Contractors have abandoned the site due to unpaid invoices, and at least five trustees have resigned from the project’s board, further eroding public confidence.
‘Public frustration’
Mahama’s pledge to investigate the project has drawn praise and scepticism in equal measure.
“Mahama is not just addressing the financial mismanagement associated with the cathedral; he’s tapping into public frustration over governance failures,” political scientist Kwame Asah-Asante from the University of Ghana told AFP.
“This investigation could set a precedent for holding leaders accountable, but it also risks becoming a political weapon if not handled transparently.”
With Ghana facing a delicate balancing act between fiscal discipline and public sentiment, the fate of the National Cathedral remains uncertain.
Over 70% of the population identify as Christian in the deeply pious West African country.
“When people are struggling to feed their families, such extravagance becomes indefensible,” Asah-Asante said.
AFP
Jeremy Doku insisted Manchester “will keep on fighting” in the Premier League title race despite their “painful” draw with Everton on Monday.
City drew 3-3 with the Toffees at Hill Dickinson Stadium, with Doku scoring a 97th-minute equaliser, having also scored the opening goal.
Doku’s equaliser (96:49) is City’s third-latest goal on record (since 2006-07) in a Premier League game after John Stones’ strike against Arsenal in September 2024 (97:14) and Gabriel Jesus’ goal against Everton in February 2019 (96:52).
Doku has had a hand in six goals across his last five games for City in all competitions (four goals, two assists), as many as in his previous 22 games combined (one goal, five assists).
The Belgian also created the most chances in the match against Everton (four), completed the most dribbles (5/7) and won the most duels (14/19).
City avoided defeat in a Premier League game despite trailing by 2+ goals as late as the 82nd minute for the first time since March 2012 against Sunderland (3-3).
They went on to win the league title in 2011-12, and Doku believes City can still beat Arsenal to the trophy this season.
“First half, we played well and created a lot of chances. We know if we don’t score those chances, it is going to get difficult at the end,” said Doku.
“Obviously, they are at their own stadium, they create chances, and they are dangerous, and they scored two goals, but I think we gave them the game.
“Good that we came back because one point is not bad in games like this.
“We will see. It feels painful now. There is still a lot of games to go. We lost two points, but we know that one point can be important at the end.
“We will keep on fighting. We owe it to ourselves and to our fans.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Nigerians interested in repatriation from South Africa will be responsible for the cost of their return trip to Nigeria.
The ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, stated this during a press briefing on Monday in Abuja.
The briefing came shortly after a closed-door meeting between the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dunoma Ahmed, and the South African Acting High Commissioner, Lesoli Machele.
Mr Ebienfa said the process will be self-funded and not state-funded, as it is a voluntary decision that the Nigerian government will only facilitate and coordinate.
In the recent past, such reparations have been sponsored by Nigerian airline owners, particularly Allen Onyema, the CEO of Air Peace.
The Nigerian government, on Sunday, indicated its readiness to repatriate its citizens from South Africa due to xenophobic violence.
The effort primarily targets Nigerians who feel threatened by the xenophobic violence and tension in parts of South Africa, as the protests against black immigrants in the country continue. Two Nigerians were killed last month.
Since the announcement, about 130 Nigerians in South Africa have expressed a willingness to return home voluntarily.
Mr Ebienfa stated that the return of the Nigerians depends on their financial capacity, as they would be expected to fund their trip back home individually.
He said, “Those willing to leave are expected to approach the high commission and, given that their decision is voluntary, have the resources to fund their return to Nigeria.”
The government will not “provide an aircraft from Nigeria to convey them.”
He also noted that the speed of the repatriation process will be determined by the availability of funds.
“Yes, 130 as of this morning have registered, but actualisation would be required to have their flight ticket to move back to Nigeria.”
Mr Ebienfa also explained that Nigerians who have so far expressed interest are motivated either by concerns about threats to their lives or by fear of arrest by South African law enforcement agencies.
“There are two groups of Nigerians who want to come back. One group feels the country is not safe for them and wants to come. They have all their papers intact.
“Then there is also the second group that has travel document violations or resident permit violations. And instead of running away from law enforcement, they are appealing that the government facilitate their movement back to Nigeria,” he explained.
However, he noted that the process is still being worked out and that the government would step in to provide aircraft or other needed assistance if tensions rise and the situation becomes more volatile.
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