The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has called for the immediate dissolution of the National Cathedral Secretariat.

This was in reaction to a recent report by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).

CHRAJ has recommended a forensic audit of the National Cathedral project, following an investigation into alleged corruption and abuse of power.

The findings, outlined in a report dated November 25, 2024, were initiated by a petition from Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa, who raised concerns about the project’s transparency and compliance with Ghana’s procurement laws.

In its recommendations, CHRAJ urged the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) to cancel the contract on the project.

“The Board of the Public Procurement Authority 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,” said the report.

In reacting to the recommendations, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa who petitioned CHRAJ, said there should be an immediate dissolution of the Secretariat.

“A couple of months ago, when I made the similar demand, a member of the Board of Trustees, Rev. Joyce Aryeh said that it was a demand that didn’t make sense to them and that they will continue to operate and draw salaries,” he told a press conference in Kumasi.

He questioned the continuous receipt of salaries for the 31 months that the project has been abandoned.

“One of the first things we want to see is the immediate dissolution of the Secretariat of the National Cathedral,” said the MP.

The CHRAJ has recommended that the PPA must move in quickly to cancel contact and also ensure the project is halted and the illegalities do not continue.

But Mr. Ablakwa expects a refund from those people who have caused financial loss to the state.

“Organize labour has been agitating about their condition of service, people who have worked are not being paid, an economy where people have been compelled to take financial haircut; how does it make sense for this project which has been declared illegal for persons to claim that they are officials of the National Cathedral Secretariat and therefore continue to take salaries?

The North Tongu MP said “by the riskless decision of President Akufo-Addo, so many demolitions have been occasioned, namely the Judicial Training Institute, Judge Bungalows, Scholarship Secretariat, the Passport Office, bungalows belonging to CHRAJ, Malian ambassador’s residence and Water Stone Apartment complex”.

He noted the CHRAJ report confirmed that all of this demolition had no legal basis for President Akufo-Addo and his Vice to plunge the country into a wasteful expenditure