Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has called on the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to swiftly publish the findings of its investigations into the National Cathedral project.
Mr Ablakwa’s request comes amidst growing concerns over the handling of the project, particularly regarding transparency and accountability in its execution.
Mr. Ablakwa in January 2023 petitioned CHRAJ under Article 218 of the 1992 Constitution to investigate an alleged transfer of GH¢2.6million cash from the National Cathedral Secretariat to JNS Talent Centre Limited, a company he said belongs to Rev. Kusi Boateng.
He also alleged a conflict of interest and possession of multiple identities by Rev. Kusi Boateng.
CHRAJ, in a letter signed by the Director of Anti-Corruption, Stephen Azantilow, acknowledged receipt of the petition on Wednesday, January 18.
“I am directed to acknowledge receipt of your complaint on the above subject matter lodged with the Commission on the 16th of January 2023 and to inform you that it is receiving attention,” the statement read.
It has been over a year and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) is yet to make public its findings on the subject matter.
Presently, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has called on President Akufo-Addo to immediately dissolve the Board of Trustees for the National Cathedral project.
The current members on the Board include prominent religious figures such as Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah, former Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, and Most Rev. Charles Palmer Buckle, Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra.
The MP also wants the National Cathedral Secretariat to be immediately closed after receiving GHS225,962,500.
He wants “the Board of Trustees and the National Cathedral Secretariat account for all private donations so far received, particularly their infamous US operations.”
“All those responsible for this gross financial loss to the state must be prosecuted with immediate effect,” he added.
This comes after a confrontation between MPs and officials of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) with Ghana Armed Forces personnel while attempting to access the National Cathedral site on March 6, 2024 over delay in its completion.
The National Cathedral, a $100-million inter-denominational project, was scheduled for completion before the commissioning date, March 6, as stated by then-Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta during the 2021 mid-year budget review in Parliament.
However, a heavy security presence surrounded the cathedral on Wednesday, leading to a clash with MPs near the new Electoral Commission head office. Both the Ghana Police Service and the military had set up barricades, restricting access to the cathedral site.
Nonetheless, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa symbolically “commissioned” the uncompleted National Cathedral project, highlighting what he perceived as the government’s failure to finish the project.
Following the ceremony, he presented a number of requests to the President with regards to the stalled project.
Mr Ablakwa wants an explanation from President Akufo-Addo on why he failed to fulfill his promise to God, to Parliament and to the sovereign Ghanaian people — the promise to commission his US$450million (GHS5.7billion) “priority of priorities” cathedral.
He is demanding full accountability on what happened to the US$58,141,509.52 (GHS740million) and “why all we see here is the world’s most expensive pit and why the contractors, RIBADE JV abandoned the project for lack of payment 2 years ago.”
The others are as follows; A comprehensive report on how much it has cost the state to so far replace and compensate some owners of demolished properties, and how much is still outstanding considering that aggrieved demolished property owners such as Waterstone Realty have resorted to the courts. We note that the following properties were recklessly demolished on the orders of President Akufo-Addo: Bungalows for Judges, Judicial Training Institute, Passport Head Office, Scholarship Secretariat, Bungalows for CHRAJ, Waterstone Realty Luxury Apartment Complex, Headquarters of Comsys IT Firm and the Malian Ambassador’s Residence.
Contract must be immediately terminated to avoid further financial loss to the state. According to the contract, Ghana will have to pay Extension of Time Claims, Standing Time Claims, Abortive & Re-Works Cost due to Main Contractor Suspension.
Retrievals from the following persons: David Adjaye — US$19.6million (GHS250million) Cary Summers — US$6million (GHS76million) Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng/Kwabena Adu Gyamfi — GHS2.6million.
Publication of the Deloitte audit which was promised on 24th January, 2023 — more than a year ago.
Mr Ablakwa has entreated the NPP Caucus in Parliament to desist from sabotaging the impending Parliamentary Probe after a unanimous parliamentary resolution.
“The NPP’s unpatriotic conduct by deliberately delaying the submission of names of their members to the Rt. Hon. Speaker for the committee to commence work is most condemnable,” he added.
Mr Ablakwa has again made a clarion call for a national debate leading to a possible national consensus on what should happen to the “world’s most expensive pit moving forward.”
“Some have suggested a specialist children’s hospital which Ghana currently lacks, we also note that recently the Secretary-General of the TUC, Dr Anthony Yaw Baah suggested the place be converted to a hospital,” he added.