Consultancy Fees, Contract Overlaps, Unaccounted Funds Plague National Cathedral Project.

An audit report into Ghana’s National Cathedral project has revealed alarming discrepancies and questionable financial practices involving key consultants and contractors.

Minister of State for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu (MP), revealed details from the Deloitte & Touche audit, highlighting significant issues with Sir David Adjaye & Associates Ltd., The Nehemiah Group, and the project’s main contractor, Ribade JV.

The audit found troubling variances in consultancy fees paid to Sir David Adjaye & Associates Ltd., with the Office of the President confirming GHS 113,040,564.86 while the firm claimed GHS 117,972,656.00 – an unexplained difference of GHS 4,932,091.14.

Even more concerning, payments totalling GHS 15,738,750 were made to Adjaye’s firm before the formal agreement was signed and before approval by the Public Procurement Authority, indicating serious procurement breaches.

The firm also received payments for “extra work” (including a 350-seater restaurant and museums) estimated at USD 12,430,221, which were not captured in the original contract.

The Nehemiah Group, a consultant for the project, also came under heavy scrutiny. The audit revealed that payments amounting to USD 523,521.03 continued even after their one-year contract expired without renewal.

Furthermore, the firm received USD 110,630.56 for fundraising events that “yielded no tangible results in terms of donations or investment.”

A significant concern was the apparent “double dipping”: The Nehemiah Group was paid for coordination and oversight roles, while Kubik Maltbie, a subcontractor, was “separately contracted for the same project management and coordination services” at USD 592,500, representing approximately 87% of The Nehemiah Group’s total payments over the same period.

The report also flagged inconsistencies in the contract amount with Ribade JV, with figures varying by millions of dollars across different government records and payment claims.

These findings revealed a significant breakdown in financial oversight and contract administration, leading to substantial financial losses and raising questions about accountability among key project stakeholders.

President Mahama has since ordered comprehensive measures, including a forensic audit, to address these deeply concerning issues.