Some NDC Members of Parliament led by North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on March 6, 2024, commissioned the unfinished National Cathedral project to symbolize their critique of the government's perceived inability to complete it.
The National Cathedral was originally scheduled for commissioning on March 6, 2024 as outlined by former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta in the 2021 budget statement.
The project has drawn significant criticism from minority MPs who are dissatisfied with the project’s expenditure.
Despite being barred from entering the construction site, the minority MPs reached an agreement with security personnel to stand at the entrance, where they intended to conduct a press conference to voice their discontent with the ongoing project and its associated costs.
The symbolic act of commissioning the uncompleted National Cathedral underscored their critique of what they perceived as shortcomings in the government’s handling of the project.
“When the act of parliament had to grind on him [Ofori-Atta], he had to come and beg. Your instructions are that we should not enter, we will not enter, we will stand at the entrance,” Sam George MP for Ningo-Prampram said,
They then cut a sod to commission the Cathedral on behalf of the president.
“We commission this expensive hole, on behalf of Dr Bawumia, President Akufo-Addo and Ken Ofori-Atta.”
Demands:
1. An explanation from President Akufo-Addo on why he failed to fulfill his promise to God, to Parliament and to the sovereign Ghanaian people — the promise to commission his US$450million (GHS5.7billion) “priority of priorities” cathedral today the 6th of March 2024;
2. Full accountability on what happened to our US$58,141,509.52 (GHS740million) why all we see here is the world’s most expensive pit and why the contractors, RIBADE JV abandoned the project for lack of payment 2 years ago;
3. A comprehensive report on how much it has cost the state to so far replace and compensate some owners of demolished properties, and how much is still outstanding considering that aggrieved demolished property owners such as Waterstone Realty have resorted to the courts. We note that the following properties were recklessly demolished on the orders of President Akufo-Addo: Bungalows for Judges, Judicial Training Institute, Passport Head Office, Scholarship Secretariat, Bungalows for CHRAJ, Waterstone Realty Luxury Apartment Complex, Headquarters of Comsys IT Firm and the Malian Ambassador’s Residence;
4. Contract must be immediately terminated to avoid further financial loss to the state. According to the contract, Ghana will have to pay Extension of Time Claims, Standing Time Claims, Abortive & Re-Works Cost due to Main Contractor Suspension;
5. Board of Trustees must be dissolved without delay;
6. National Cathedral Secretariat should be immediately closed. So far this secretariat has received GHS225,962,500. (Refer to organogram as attached)
7. Retrievals from the following persons:
David Adjaye — US$19.6million (GHS250million)
Cary Summers — US$6million (GHS76million)
Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng/Kwabena Adu Gyamfi — GHS2.6million
8. Publication of the Deloitte audit which was promised on 24th January, 2023 — more than a year ago;
9. The NPP Caucus in Parliament should desist from sabotaging the impending Parliamentary Probe after a unanimous parliamentary resolution. The NPP’s unpatriotic conduct by deliberately delaying the submission of names of their members to the Rt. Hon. Speaker for the committee to commence work is most condemnable;
10. Appeal to CHRAJ to expedite action and publish the outcome of their investigations following my January 16, 2023 petition;
11. That the Board of Trustees and the National Cathedral Secretariat account for all private donations so far received, particularly their infamous US operations;
12. All those responsible for this gross financial loss to the state must be prosecuted with immediate effect;
13. We call for a national debate leading to a possible national consensus on what should happen to the world’s most expensive pit moving forward. Some have suggested a specialist children’s hospital which Ghana currently lacks, we also note that recently the Secretary-General of the TUC, Dr Anthony Yaw Baah suggested the place be converted to a hospital.