Ablakwa calls for Ofori Atta’s ‘head’ over National Cathedral disbursement

North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has called for the removal of the Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta for the allocation of state funds for the construction of the National Cathedral, which was a personal promise by President Nana Akufo-Addo.

The legislator, who has been critically monitoring the government’s expenditure, hinted that parliament is considering measures for the minister’s removal for approving unbudgeted funds for the construction of the National Cathedral.

He pointed out that the drastic unilateral decision taken by the sector minister violates Article 178 of the 1992 Constitution, which dictates the processes involved in the withdrawal of public funds.

“Yes, I can speak authoritatively to the fact that this GH¢ 142.7 million, such a staggering amount, was not presented to parliament for approval. As you are aware, article 178 provides that no monies can be withdrawn from the consolidated fund. In other words, you cannot touch public funds if you do not have parliamentary approval.

“When you break the law, you have to be punished, and for public officials, one of the opportunities available to us in parliament is to remove them from office. That is why you have the vote of censorship where ministers are removed from office through that process.

“So, I can confirm to you that as colleagues in the house, we are having serious discussions about what should happen to the finance minister. Already we have summoned him to come and respond to three urgent questions on this matter,” he said in an interview with Metro TV monitored by theghanareport.com.

Mr Ablakwa insists that the country’s procurement laws have also been totally violated in the said matter.

In the last few weeks, the legislator, who has been hovering around the government’s expenditure, promised to make public all payments made towards the construction of the National Cathedral.

The North Tongu MP claimed that more than GH¢200 million had been released so far, an action he described as illegal.

Giving a breakdown, he said an amount of GH¢32 million was disbursed to the architect of the National Cathedral project, Sir David Adjaye & Associates Limited, sometime in 2021.

The latest post reveals that President Nana Akufo-Addo, in October 2020, requested payment of a staggering Gh¢ 142.7 million for the planned activities for the national cathedral.

The national cathedral is expected to be the rallying point for the Christian community to convene to worship, pray and promote deep national conversations on the role of faith in building Ghana.

The magnificent cathedral proposed by the government in March 2017 is expected to cash in on the religious tourism industry valued at US$18billion.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo unveiled the design for the cathedral in March 2018.

At the time, he said the construction was in fulfilment of a promise he made to God in the run-up to the December 2016 elections.

The project, which renowned architect David Adjaye designed, was widely criticized and condemned by a number of Ghanaians who considered it a misplaced priority.

The condemnation deepened when the government demolished the residence of some Supreme Court judges in Accra to pave the way for the construction.

On 5 March 2020, President Akufo-Addo laid the foundation stone for the commencement of the construction.

The President assured that the cathedral would not just be another national monument adorning the skyline of Accra but a place of worship.

The project is estimated at an initial cost of $100million.

The project has ignited recent debates among Ghanaians after the government has granted the release of GH¢25 million to the National Cathedral Secretariat as additional seed money for the construction of the national cathedral.

A letter, signed by the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, to the Controller and Accountant’s General, directed that the money be credited to Ribade Limited for part payment of outstanding claims.

“Authority is hereby granted to you to release the sum [of] GH¢25, 000,000.00 as additional seed money to the National Cathedral Secretariat for the construction of the National Cathedral for part payment of outstanding claims from RIBADE Limited,” the letter added.