The Minister of State-designate for Finance, Abena Osei-Asare, has admitted that some areas in the management of the National Cathedral project could have been handled more effectively.

She admitted during her vetting on Wednesday, March 13, that the processes for the controversial project could have been executed in a better manner.

Mrs. Osei-Asare conceded that improvements could have been made in overseeing the project and stressed the importance of the Board of Trustees in fundraising to support its completion.

While the government has made its contribution, she emphasised the need for trustees to fulfill their role in advancing the project.

“Mr. Chairman, I think we could have gone over it better than what we have done, that I must admit because, for me, it’s a very personal issue because I’m a Christian”.

“Mr Chairman, the National Cathedral is also made up of trustees and these trustees are also supposed to, they are there to raise monies to help complete the project. Government has contributed its seed fund and I believe that now is also up to the trustees to also do their part to make sure we realize this dream.”

The National Cathedral project has faced significant public criticism, particularly regarding transparency issues surrounding its financing and construction progress.

Initially scheduled for commissioning on March 6, the project has come under scrutiny, especially from minority MPs who have raised concerns about its expenditure and lack of transparency in fund allocation.

They have argued that the commissioning was intended to highlight the government's failure to complete the project.

North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakaw, and his colleagues have called on the government to provide a detailed account of the project expenses, pointing out the failure to complete the cathedral as promised by the former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, in 2021.

Describing the project as the "most expensive pit in the world," Mr Ablakwa has demanded full accountability for the purported investment of "$58,141,509.52."

He also questioned why the contractors abandoned the project due to lack of payment two years ago.