National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah expresses his lack of surprise at the resignations of Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams and Rev. Eastwood Anaba from the Board of Trustees responsible for overseeing the construction of Ghana’s National Cathedral.
In a jointly signed statement by Archbishop Duncan-Williams and Reverend Anaba, they clarified that their decision to resign stemmed from the government’s failure to designate an impartial accounting firm to conduct an audit of all public funds directed towards the National Cathedral.
“Despite our prayers, best hopes, and wishes, unfortunately, a needed audit to help restore public confidence and trust in this consequential project has not been enacted to the best of our knowledge. Since January 2023, we awaited news to no avail, regarding the finding of the audit.
“We, therefore, regret that as a matter of conscience and faith, we hereby submit to you our resignation from the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral.”
In January 2023, the two well-respected clerics demanded that the National Cathedral’s construction be put on hold indefinitely in order to conduct a project audit.
The pair also said in a letter to the Board of Trustees that the project cannot be completed on schedule due to Ghana’s current economic situation, which is why they are calling for its suspension until the nation’s economic situation improves.
“The current economic climate in Ghana presents obstacles to the timely construction and completion of the National Cathedral… We, therefore, resolve: That in the spirit and cause of transparency and accountability to the Ghanaian people, the current Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral shall appoint an independent, nationally recognized accounting firm to audit all public funds contributed to and spent by the National Cathedral,” the two clergymen said in a memo.
In an interview on Kasapa 102.5FM/Agoo TV on Wednesday, Mr. Asiedu Nketiah discussed the two clergymen’s resignations and stated that, given the rot found in the cathedral’s construction, it was only a matter of time for them to leave the Board of Trustees.
“Their resignation from the Board of Trustees is not surprising, we knew it would happen and it was just a matter of time. Well, I congratulate them, it is better late than not at all. Their resignation is not too late, but I would have wished that they would not have accepted the appointment from the beginning. But sometimes, when somebody is deceiving you, it is not everyone who’s able to see through the deception.”
Since its first proposal as a national place of worship and a symbol of Ghanaians’ pride and unity, the National Cathedral has been the subject of debate and controversy.