Why National Cathedral board cannot be dissolved by gov’t unless court order – Lawyer explains and insists there is no audit report on financial mismanagement
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.
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At a press conference in Accra on Thursday [July 24, 2025] where he defended the trustees against accusations of financial wrongdoing following a recent press conference 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.
Read also: FULL DOCUMENT: Read the full Deloitte and Touche audit report on Ghana's National Cathedral
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.
Read also: 'National Cathedral 'hole' cost $97 Million' - Kwakye Ofosu
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.
