The Dormaahene and President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Dr Nana Freduah Agyemang Badu II, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to ensure accountability and possible prosecution over alleged corruption surrounding the National Cathedral project.

He made the remarks during the President’s visit to the Bono Region for a sod-cutting ceremony to commence the construction of major roads under the government’s Big Push programme.

Addressing the gathering, the Judge of the Court of Appeal said corruption was a key reason many Ghanaians voted for the President, stressing the need to confront concerns surrounding the National Cathedral project.

“One of the main reasons why Ghanaians voted for you is corruption. We have seen this with the National Cathedral; the amount of money spent on that project is mind-blowing. Some of us thought it was 56 million dollars, only to find out later that it was 96 or 97 million dollars,” he said.

Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Dr Nana Freduah Agyemang Badu II warned against attempts to downplay concerns over the project, insisting that any wrongdoing must be addressed through due legal processes.

“Should the Attorney-General come out to say there is no issue of corruption surrounding this project, truth be told, I would take legal action against whoever is responsible. Mr President, let no one convince you that there are no issues with it. Anyone found to have defaulted must face prosecution under the law,” he added.

The National Cathedral project, originally launched under the Nana Akufo-Addo-led administration as a symbol of national unity and religious faith, has been one of the most controversial public infrastructure projects in Ghana’s recent history.

Intended to serve as a non-denominational Christian worship centre, the project was plagued by delays, lack of transparency, ballooning costs and public outcry over the use of state funds in a secular republic.

But the current government has announced plans to convert the stalled National Cathedral project into a National Cultural Convention Centre (NCCC), positioning it as the flagship hub for Ghana’s burgeoning creative economy and cultural diplomacy efforts.