Specifically in relation to the contentious National Cathedral project, Ransford Gyampo, a professor at the University of Ghana, has charged that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has wasted the popular confidence he gained upon taking office.
Gyampo contends that after tricking Ghanaians into supporting him, President Akufo-Addo mishandled the project and wasted the goodwill that had previously been there.
In an interview with Key Points on Saturday, November 30, Gyampo voiced his disappointment, stating, “Akufo-Addo has squandered the goodwill by misleading all Ghanaians into believing he was something he isn’t.” The president should be held responsible for the project’s shortcomings, he added, even suggesting that the expenses may be paid for using Akufo-Addo’s ex gratia and perks.
In the same conversation, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, a politician from North Tongu, expressed similar views, claiming that the president had deceived the distinguished priests who were on the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral. Saying that “everything begins and ends at the doorstep of Akufo-Addo,” Ablakwa demanded that President Akufo-Addo be held entirely accountable for the project’s setback.
Further, Ablakwa said, “The great clerics have distinguished themselves and served effectively, but now they could be prosecuted. The person who needs to pay for this disaster and the reimbursement is President Akufo-Addo. He maintained that the board members’ wages need to be stopped right now due to the project’s ongoing sluggishness, which has kept it on hold for more than 30 months.
A refund of the $58 million already spent on the project is necessary, Ablakwa stressed, citing a report by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ). Using the words “explosive” and “damning,” he said, “We can’t spend $58 million on an illegality.” In order to build the National Cathedral, the commission decided that the contract with Ribade Company Ltd. was illegal under public procurement laws and ought to be removed.
In addition to suggesting additional research into the procurement procedure, the CHRAJ report suggested that the National Cathedral’s Board of Trustees be prosecuted for their involvement in awarding the contract in violation of the Procurement Act. The report cautioned that Ghana may face international shame as a result of these violations.
As a means of honoring God, President Akufo-Addo initially pledged the National Cathedral project in 2016. However, since then, it has encountered strong criticism and financial difficulties. When concerns were raised concerning the use of public monies for such an elaborate undertaking, the public’s outrage grew. Because of financial issues, the development has now stopped, and government officials’ claims that donors would finance the project have not come to fruition.
Professor Gyampo and Ablakwa both maintain that President Akufo-Addo should take the primary blame for the project’s failure as the controversy surrounding the National Cathedral heats up, with many demanding a thorough investigation into how state funds related to its construction were handled.
Discussion about this post