Apostle Prof Opoku Onyinah, a former Chairman of the Church of Pentecost and Chairman of the National Cathedral Board of Trustees, has expressed concern over what he describes as “absolute lies” being spread about the National Cathedral project.
In an interactive session with some church leaders, Apostle Onyinah recounted his ministry experiences and the challenges he faced in initiating major church projects, noting that criticism and opposition are not new in the work of God.
He revealed that, just as he faced opposition when establishing the Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC) during his tenure as a leader of the Church of Pentecost, similar and even worse falsehoods are now being circulated about the National Cathedral.
“Some of them were very, very disturbing. I mean, especially those that are absolute lies. Some people try to tell complete lies, as they are talking about the Cathedral, and some comments are 100% lies about these things,” he lamented.
Apostle Onyinah stressed that his focus remains on fulfilling what he believes to be God’s will, regardless of opposition or misinformation.
“I said, No, I need to pursue what God wants us to do. So, I look forward to the Lord who has told me and who wants to do something, and I believe that at least the will of God will be done,” he added.
The former Chairman of the Church of Pentecost shared these sentiments while narrating how the idea of PIWC was born out of the need to accommodate young people returning from tertiary institutions who felt disconnected from traditional church services.
According to him, despite early criticism, the PIWC has grown into a significant arm of the church, showing that challenges are a natural part of executing divine assignments.
Meanwhile, following a scathing audit report, President John Dramani Mahama has ordered the dissolution of the National Cathedral Secretariat and initiated legal processes to disband its Board of Trustees.
The directives were announced by Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, who stated that the Secretariat was dissolved as of May 1, 2025.
The action follows a Deloitte and Touche audit of the National Cathedral Secretariat’s operations from 2021 to 2023, which uncovered a litany of financial irregularities, procurement breaches, and a “general lack of due process.”
The minister said the findings “rock the very foundation of the project and the work of the Secretariat and raise serious questions about the use of public funds.”
Beyond the immediate dissolutions, the government is taking further steps to address the pervasive issues. The full Deloitte and Touche audit report will be published to ensure transparency, the minister stated.
The Auditor-General has been requested to commission a comprehensive forensic audit into the operations.
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice is tasked with taking legal steps to lawfully terminate the contract for the National Cathedral project, a measure aimed at “preventing further costs and losses to the state.”
The minister affirmed that “decisive action will be taken regarding any impropriety determined and the future of the project itself” once the forensic audit is complete.
