Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has called for the National Cathedral Secretariat to be immediately dissolved.His demand follows a recent report released by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), which has recommended a forensic audit into the National Cathedral project. The investigation was initiated after Mr.

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Ablakwa petitioned CHRAJ, raising concerns over alleged corruption and violations of procurement laws associated with the project.The CHRAJ report, dated November 25, 2024, uncovered several lapses in the management of the project and advised the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) to terminate the contract related to the construction. Mr.

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Ablakwa’s call aligns with these findings, which highlight the need for greater transparency and accountability.“The Board of the Public Procurement Authority should intervene to cancel the contract for the construction of the National Cathedral between the National Cathedral and Ribade Company as it has the power to do so under the Procurement Act,” said the report.

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In reacting to the recommendations, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who petitioned CHRAJ, said there should be an immediate dissolution of the Secretariat."A couple of months ago, when I made the similar demand, a member of the Board of Trustees, Rev. Joyce Aryeh said that it was a demand that didn't make sense to them and that they will continue to operate and draw salaries," he told a press conference in

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Kumasi.

questioned the continuous receipt of salaries for the 31 months that the project has been abandoned."One of the first things we want to see is the immediate dissolution of the Secretariat of the National Cathedral," said the MP.The CHRAJ has recommended that the PPA must move in quickly to cancel contact and also ensure the project is halted and the illegalities do not continue.But Mr. Ablakwa

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expects a refund from those people who have caused financial loss to the state.

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"Organise labour has been agitating about their condition of service; people who have worked are not being paid; an economy where people have been compelled to take financial haircuts; how does it make sense for this project, which has been declared illegal, for persons to claim that they are officials of the National Cathedral Secretariat and therefore continue to take salaries?The North Tongu MP said “by the riskless decision of President

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Akufo-Addo, so many demolitions have been occasioned, namely the Judicial Training Institute, Judge Bungalows, Scholarship Secretariat, the Passport Office, bungalows belonging to CHRAJ, the Malian ambassador’s residence, and the Water Stone Apartment complex.".

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He stated that the CHRAJ report affirmed there was no legal justification for President Akufo-Addo and his Vice to authorize the demolitions, resulting in what he described as unnecessary and wasteful expenditure for the country.

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