Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has criticized President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for failing to address the controversial National Cathedral project during his final State of the Nation Address (SONA).In a post on the X platform, Ablakwa condemned the President’s silence on the $58 million project, which the President had once described as his “priority of priorities.

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” He described the continued payment of high salaries to staff of the National Cathedral Secretariat as an affront to struggling Ghanaian taxpayers.“Recent payment records intercepted reveal that just four days ago, staff of the Secretariat received salaries ranging from GHS20,721 to GHS29,838 for December,” Ablakwa disclosed.

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He further noted that these payments continued despite a report by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) declaring the project illegal and calling for the prosecution of those involved. Ablakwa described the ongoing salary payments as a reckless financial loss to the state, emphasizing that the construction site had remained abandoned for 33 months.

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“The President may have avoided mentioning the National Cathedral during his address, but he should be even more embarrassed by the unjustified continuation of salary payments for a stalled project,” he added.Ablakwa expressed confidence that with the NPP’s defeat in the December elections, the payments would be halted by January 2025 and the Secretariat dissolved.

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Meanwhile, CHRAJ has called for a forensic audit into the project, citing financial irregularities and breaches of Ghana’s procurement laws.In a report dated November 22, 2024, the Commission highlighted that GHS225.9 million in “seed money” had been spent on activities including site preparation, contractor mobilization, and consultancy services as of May 31, 2022.

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CHRAJ stressed the need for public accountability, urging the Auditor-General to conduct a detailed review to ensure value for money.The investigation, prompted by a petition from Ablakwa, also revealed that the construction contract awarded to Ribade Company Ltd violated the Procurement Act, rendering it legally void.

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CHRAJ recommended that the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) cancel the contract and investigate the Board of Trustees for their involvement in the procurement breaches.“The PPA should intervene and cancel the contract between the National Cathedral and Ribade Company Ltd,” the report concluded.

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