David Adjaye has issued a statement in response to the ongoing scrutiny of the design fees and commissioning of the National Cathedral of Ghana project in his home country.

Speaking to the Ghanaian outlet Joy News after the new year, the architect dismissed claims of preferential treatment and financial impropriety on the project, stating that nothing was “hidden or opaque” within the process that has become the subject of legal action taken by political opponents to President Nana Akufo-Addo.

The dispute centers on $21.37 million USD worth of fees paid to Adjaye Associates in two installments by the government that were allegedly not approved by the parliament, according to a minority politician who is campaigning for their repayment dependent on the outcome of the country’s 2024 national elections. 

It has been established, however, that approvals did go through Ghana’s Public Procurement Authority properly. Additionally, an update provided by the Cathedral's Executive Director in December found no monies were missing in response to a related claim that Adjaye had added an extra charge for the project’s Bible Museum & Biblical Gardens without proper oversight or accounting. The outcry mirrored the criticism of insider bidding in the massive Agenda 111 infrastructure scheme, which became the subject of a separate lawsuit filed in September of 2021. Both have riled supporters who say the accomplishments of one of the country's leading figures are being unduly harmed by politically-motivated disputes over cost.

“What is really sad and boring is when people just make accusations based on anything [...] that is not actually investigating,” Adjaye told reporter Maxwell Agbagba in reply to the claims, which had been mounting for the past few years. “Fake investigations really reflect badly on the people who are investigating. I think all the information is in the public realm and people are ignoring to look at the information and are saying things that are counter to what is out there in the public realm.”

Construction is continuing for now without the $80 million GHS ($6.45 million USD) contribution from the annual government budget as a direct result of the country’s dire economic woes. Other figures are calling for its suspension until an audit can be completed on what they have labeled a “vanity project.” Dag Heward-Mills, a religious leader affiliated with the Cathedral's Board of Trustees, has also spoken out after his resignation. 

A timeline for completion is still not available at this time.