Vice President of IMANI-Africa, Bright Simons
Renowned policy analyst and Vice President of IMANI Africa, Bright Simons, presented a critical assessment of the costs and benefits of Ghana’s National Cathedral project during a speech to the Project Management Institute (Ghana Chapter) in Accra on February 28, 2025.
During his presentation, Simons projected that the controversial project would have cost the country at least $1.2 billion, while generating less than $100 million in economic benefits over its projected lifespan.
He showed from his analysis that the Cathedral project raises serious concerns about its financial viability, which has been mired in controversy since its inception.
Even though supporters have often argued that critics focus only on the costs without considering the returns on investment, Simons emphasised that any potential benefits would be negligible compared to the heavily underestimated costs.
Simons further detailed the methodology behind his cost-benefit analysis, stressing that his projections were based on realistic assessments of all likely expenditures and potential benefits, not just direct monetary revenues.
He also questioned the rationale behind investing such a vast sum in a project that, according to his calculations, would burden Ghana with further losses and liabilities even after the hefty upfront investment.
Simons expressed disappointment that, despite the intense public interest surrounding the project, “even a basic Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) was never conducted.”
He argued that beyond the governance, procurement, and accountability issues, the project was also a massive financial liability.
Bright Simons during his presentation showed that supporters of the project have over the years grossly overestimated potential revenue, falsely claiming that visitor numbers and payments would exceed those of some of the world’s most iconic historical cathedrals, such as Canterbury and St. Paul’s, which have taken more than a decade to generate significant earnings.
Simons also reminded the audience that other large state-owned event-hosting facilities, such as the National Theatre and the Accra International Conference Center, have struggled for years to generate enough revenue even for basic maintenance and have had to rely on state subsidies to stay afloat.
His latest findings add to widespread public skepticism over the rationale for completing the discredited and stalled project, even as the nation awaits a forensic audit into wasted funds, a probe promised by the President John Dramani.
So far, over $58 million has been paid to architects and contractors, yet there is little to show for it. Additionally, debts remain outstanding to contractors and individuals whose properties were demolished to make way for the ill-fated project.
The National Cathedral project, championed by the erstwhile Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government, was intended to serve as a national symbol of faith and unity.
However, it has faced intense scrutiny over funding transparency, procurement abuses, public deception, stalled construction, and concerns about long-term sustainability.
MA