- Ablakwa alleges Akufo-Addo assured that no public funds would be used for the cathedral project
- Ablakwa criticizes the President for not obtaining parliamentary approval for the use of public funds
- He revealed that a Right to Information request showed the Procurement Authority was unaware of the project
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, has sharply criticized President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, accusing him of misleading the public and religious leaders about the financing of the National Cathedral.
Ablakwa contends that the President misled everyone, including God, regarding the sources of funding for the cathedral project. Initially, Akufo-Addo had assured that no public funds would be used. However, it was later revealed that state funds were indeed allocated to the project, leading to significant backlash and scrutiny.
In a recent interview with an Accra-based television station, Ablakwa condemned Akufo-Addo’s actions as a blatant violation of the Constitution, pointing out that the use of public funds for the project lacked parliamentary approval.
Ablakwa questioned the rationale behind spending $58.1 million on what he described as “the world’s most expensive pit,” initially presented as a private pledge.
He revealed that his Right to Information request to the Procurement Authority showed that the project had not undergone the necessary procurement processes and that the authority was unaware of it.
“This level of accountability is shocking and reflects a disregard for our Constitution,” Ablakwa said. “The Constitution clearly mandates that public funds cannot be spent without parliamentary approval, yet this project represents a flagrant violation of that principle.”
On July 3, 2024, Finance Ministry Minister of State Abena Osei Asare informed Parliament that GH₵339 million had been allocated to the National Cathedral project. She stated that this funding was essential for the project’s progress and completion.
