The MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has said “there is just no end in sight to the extremely putrefying and ungodly National Cathedral scandal”.
The opposition lawmaker wrote on Facebook: “On the 4th of July, 2022, I decided to make a formal RTI request under Section 18 of Act 989 to the Public Procurement Authority to establish the procurement status regarding the construction of the National Cathedral by RIBADE Company Limited”.
“To my utter shock, the PPA’s Chief Executive, Mr Frank Mante, responded in a 5th July 2022 letter that it “holds no information relating to the construction of the National Cathedral by Ribade Company Ltd”, he revealed.
In his view, “It is absolutely despicable to discover the sinful levels of recklessness and lawlessness which the Akufo-Addo government is exhibiting in the construction of a massive US$400million cathedral which has already siphoned a colossal GHS200million of public funds, albeit unconstitutionally, without any regard, whatsoever, for Ghana’s procurement laws”.
The former deputy minister of education noted: “Section 14(2)(e) of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663) is unambiguous that state-owned enterprises to the extent that they utilise public funds are subject to Act 663”.
Mr Ablakwa, who has made several allegations against the government concerning the project, observed: “It is also instructive to note that Section 14(1)(a) of Act 663 makes clear that Ghana’s procurement laws apply once the project is financed in whole or in part from public funds”, but noted: “There is also no evidence that Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta followed due process to make an exception as provided for under the law after my painstaking checks of all gazetted publications as demanded by Section 14(3) of Act 663”.
Additionally, he said, “it is obvious from the PPA response to my RTI request that their board have granted no waiver or ratification as they may consider under exceptional circumstances”.
Mr Ablakwa believes “when procurement laws are not respected and cronies are handpicked in sweetheart deals as in this instant case, there is no value for money, Ghana is shortchanged financially and technically; this, therefore, explains why the National Cathedral project cost has become a corrupt moving target from the initial US$100million, to US$200miilion, then US$250million, rising to US$350million and now US$400million”.
“This is yet another significant addition to the already countless cases of flagrant violation of the 1992 Constitution and other laws of Ghana, ironically in a temple project which should have edified God. Even people who build for Satan do not engage in such a lawless orgy”.
“It must not be lost on us that this Akufo-Addo government has prosecuted political opponents and succeeded in jailing some, and then serving as an elated conveyor belt in a conspiracy that removed an Electoral Commissioner from office, all for alleged procurement breaches — none of those procurement infractions measures up to this egregious transgression. On judgement day, there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth”, he noted.
Source: Modern Ghana