The National Cathedral project, once heralded as a symbol of national unity and spiritual heritage, has instead become a lightning rod for controversy, with critics labelling it “the most expensive pit” in Ghana’s history.
At the centre of this ongoing saga are allegations of financial mismanagement, unauthorised use of public funds, and misrepresentation to key stakeholders.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express with Evans Mensah on Wednesday, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Chairperson of the newly-formed Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) Team, revealed new insights into how President Akufo-Addo allegedly misled prominent clergy on the Cathedral’s board.
The North Tongu MP, known for his extensive investigations into the Cathedral project, stated emphatically that President Akufo-Addo deceived many clergy members on the board.
“I am convinced that a lot of this clergy were misled. They were deceived by the President, to put it bluntly,” he said.
According to the former Deputy Education Minister, the President assured board members in their inaugural meeting that public funds would not be used for the project.
“Indeed, some of these reverend ministers even delivered sermons assuring their congregations that public funds would not be used,” he noted.
However, intercepted documents revealed that the Finance Ministry, under Ken Ofori-Atta, had secretly withdrawn funds for the project without parliamentary approval—an act that Mr Ablakwa described as a clear violation of the Constitution.
The issue came to a head when prominent board members, including Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, and Reverend Eastwood Anaba, resigned.
Mr Ablakwa pointed out that, their resignation letters highlighted a lack of transparency and control over key decisions, including the selection of architects, contractors, and the project’s location.
“Dag Heward-Mills’ resignation letter specifically mentions that they didn’t have a hand in the selection of architects or the demolitions,” the MP explained.
“These clergy realized they were being used as a cover for actions they had no control over.”
He further criticised those who remained on the board, suggesting they should have resigned en bloc when it became evident they were being sidelined.
While Mr Ablakwa expressed sympathy for the clergy who were allegedly misled, he was unequivocal in his call for accountability from President Akufo-Addo and Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
“The President and Ken Ofori-Atta masterminded this whole National Cathedral debacle. They engaged in illegal withdrawals and violated the Constitution. They cannot be spared,” he stated.
Mr Ablakwa rejected attempts to scapegoat the clergy, stated that their role as directors did not absolve the President and his appointees from responsibility.
“Yes, the clergy have a fiduciary duty, but when you look at the evidence, it’s clear that the real masterminds were Akufo-Addo and Ofori-Atta,” he argued.
The National Cathedral project has been plagued with controversies since its inception.
Initially touted as a private-funded initiative, it was later revealed that over $58 million in public funds had been channelled into the project without proper authorisation.
Additionally, compensation payments for properties demolished to make way for the Cathedral, as well as alleged inflated contracts, have further fueled public outrage.
The Minority in Parliament has been particularly critical, describing the uncompleted structure as “the most expensive pit” in the nation’s history.
Mr Ablakwa’s revelations have added another layer of complexity to an already contentious issue.
As Chairperson of the ORAL Team, Mr Ablakwa is tasked with investigating acts of corruption and recovering misappropriated public funds.
He pledged that the National Cathedral scandal would be a priority for his team, calling for forensic audits and a thorough investigation into the mismanagement of funds.
“Ghanaians deserve closure on this matter,” he said.
“We need to follow the money and retrieve what was misappropriated. The clergy may have been misled, but the real culprits must face the full rigours of the law.”
