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CHRAJ recommends forensic audit on National Cathedral project

November 26, 2024
GNA

Ernest Nutsugah

Accra, Nov. 26, GNA – The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has recommended a forensic audit on the construction of the National Cathedral project “from its inception to date.”

CHRAJ wants the Auditor-General to conduct the audit to ascertain whether monies released for the stalled Cathedral project were “properly utilised.”

It also recommended “further investigation and possible prosecution” of the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral who superintended over the award of the contract to Ribade company.

This was contained in the Commission’s report which, in part, exonerated Reverend Victor Kusi Boateng, Secretary of the National Cathedral Board of Trustees, over allegations of conflict of interest and other matters.

In January 2023, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu in the Volta Region, petitioned (CHRAJ) to investigate Rev. Kusi Boateng on issues including possession of multiple identities and other allegations.

CHRAJ, in its final report presented on the matter, indicated that Rev Kusi Boateng “does not hold two different passports, each bearing one of his two names
”

The Commission established that Two Hundred and Twenty-Five Million, Nine Hundred and Sixty-Two Thousand and Five Hundred Ghana Cedis (GHS225,962,500.00) had been spent on the National Cathedral, as of 31 May 2022.

“This sum of money has been expended on site preparation, contractors’ mobilisation, US Fundraising, consultants, and symposia.

“The stated sum of money is no small amount. Public interest dictates that there ought to be value for money in project execution. Unfortunately, this Commission has no expertise to

determine whether there has been value for money considering the project remains in the same state.”

It was against this background that the Commission wants the Auditor-General to conduct the forensic audit into the project expenditure.

CHRAJ also recommended that the Board of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) “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.”

“These breaches of the procurement laws have the potential of courting international embarrassment to the country considering its international status and that of Ribade company Ltd,” the report added.

GNA