The Attorney-General’s Department has defended the government’s financial dealings on the National Cathedral project, rejecting claims that the trans
The Attorney-General’s Department has defended the government’s financial dealings on the National Cathedral project, rejecting claims that the transactions violated the 1992 Constitution.
The response comes after private citizen Jonathan Amable filed a Supreme Court suit in 2024, challenging what he describes as unconstitutional state financial practices.
Mr. Amable is seeking a declaration that funding for the National Cathedral from the Consolidated Fund—without prior approval from the Speaker of Parliament and the Chairperson of the Council of State—breaches Article 179(11) of the Constitution. He is also asking the Court to compel the state to refund all monies allegedly withdrawn unlawfully for the project.
The plaintiff additionally questions the constitutionality of a $10 billion COVID-19 Relief Bond transaction between the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Ghana, arguing that it contravenes Article 181(4), which governs public borrowing.
In its response, the Attorney-General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, maintained that all payments toward the National Cathedral were lawful, drawn from the Contingency Vote under “Other Government Obligations,” and not from the Contingency Fund as alleged.
“The National Cathedral is 100% owned by the State,” the Attorney-General’s statement emphasized, noting that the project operates as a state-owned company limited by guarantee under the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board, as confirmed in a legal opinion issued on January 6, 2022.
The Department further explained that the project’s financing and policy framework have been transparently outlined in annual budget statements since 2018. The government committed to providing land, a secretariat, and seed funding, while most financing was expected from private and non-public sources.
According to the A-G, Parliament granted policy approval for the project as part of the national budget following detailed deliberations.
On the COVID-19 Relief Bond, the Attorney-General argued that the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Ghana was a lawful fiscal measure aimed at cushioning the economy during the pandemic.