Minority in Parliament files motion for probe into National Cathedral project

Following the recent expose about the inconsequential information about the National Cathedral project, the Minority in Parliament has filed a motion for a full-scale inquiry into allegations of corruption that have occasioned its construction.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu and an ardent critic of the government's handling of the information concerning the National Cathedral project disclosed that a probe will be necessary to clear or unravel acts of corruption the minority caucus and other Ghanaians have raised red flags. Speaking in an interview monitored by Soireenews.com, the North Tongu lawmaker alleged that the government had engaged in an “avalanche of putrefying rots and illegalities” in the construction of the National Cathedral Project for which they must be held accountable. “I can confirm this evening that we are filing a motion. Remember that earlier; we had filed three urgent questions…we decided that we will have a full-scale parliamentary probe and so we have filed that motion now waiting for the verdict of the Honourable Speaker,” he said. Also, the MP further urged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to break his loud silence about the happenings on the project and apologize to Ghanaians, particularly, the clergymen involved in the project whose names are being dragged through the mud. “He,(President Akufo-Addo) must now come out from hiding and address the nation, admit to all the errors, apologize to the nation and all these eminent priests and the Christian community he has misled. “And he should start taking steps, walk back and be truthful and sincere and put out the real objectives that he intends for the Ghanaian people should pay for this project,” he added. The North Tongu MP has been championing suggestions of alleged infractions and acts of corruption on the back of the ongoing National Cathedral project.

In his latest revelations, Honourable Ablakwa alleged that the architect for the National Cathedral was paid an additional amount of money for the design he worked on for the Bible Museum and Biblical Gardens as part of the project.

According to Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Sir John Adjaye was given 12.5% for the architecture of the National Cathedral and an additional amount which he failed to mention. In his June 20, 2022 tweet, Ablakwa added that the extra amount of money given to Sir Adjaye was part of the US$ 20 million seed money released by the government.

He also previously stated that the government has used over GH₵ 200 million for the National Cathedral Project without the approval of Parliament. That, he said is a contravention of the law and therefore requires an inquest.

Report by Prosper Kwaku Selassy Agbitor