Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has revealed that the National Cathedral project is accumulating debts even though construction work on the project has been halted due to a lack of funds.

During an appearance on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana show, Ablakwa clarified that the accumulations by early August 2023 had reached a total of $52 million.

He advised individuals asserting that the project was gradually fading away that their stance was inaccurate, as it was still incurring expenses for taxpayers. He highlighted that those suggesting harm had already been inflicted and asserting that the project had been at a standstill for 17 months, potentially succumbing to a natural cessation were not accurate in their assessment.

“I want to avert the minds of people who may be thinking that way to the fact that the contract which has been signed, a very very terrible contract per experts, even though work is not going on, there are accruals. There is something in the contract called suspension claims,” he submitted on August 5, 2023.

“So, even though the government has suspended work, every month, Ghana is paying US$500,000. Every month, so it is accruing, as we speak, the accruals alone have come to US$52 million,” he revealed.

He reminded that US$58 million had been spent already before going on to give a break down of the accruals as follows:

a. US$29m certified claim from Ribade, after the company stopped work and laid off staff in March 2022

b. Interest claim on the US$29 million is US$13 million that is what contractors are saying

c. Suspension of work so far has accrued debt of US$10m