Professor Ransford Gyampo, a political science lecturer at the University of Ghana, has put forward a controversial suggestion for recouping funds to reclaim land for the National Cathedral project. In a recent panel discussion on TV3, Gyampo proposed that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s ex-gratia payments be frozen and redirected to cover financial losses associated with the cathedral’s construction.
Gyampo argued that President Akufo-Addo should face personal consequences for the financial missteps related to the National Cathedral. “Somebody must be held accountable for the construction of the National Cathedral,” Gyampo asserted. “President Akufo-Addo should face repercussions. If we can freeze his gratuity to help cover the costs of reclaiming the land, we should. If that isn’t feasible, we should consider legal action against him and his appointees.”
Despite acknowledging the potential legal challenges of his proposal, Gyampo insisted that President Akufo-Addo and his ministers, who played roles in allocating state funds for the project, should be held accountable for the financial loss incurred.
In related developments, Abena Osei Asare, Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, revealed that the government has invested GH¢339 million into the National Cathedral’s construction. This amount includes GH¢225 million paid to the National Cathedral Secretariat and GH¢113 million to the project consultant. The National Cathedral’s accounts are currently under audit, with Deloitte Ghana conducting a statutory audit.
Asare stated, “A value-for-money audit was conducted in 2021, and a statutory audit for the periods ended December 31, 2020, and subsequent years is ongoing. The auditors have concluded the review for the 18-month period ended December 31, 2020, and are now working on the accounts for 2021, 2022, and 2023.”
The construction of the National Cathedral has faced significant delays due to financial and logistical issues, adding urgency to discussions about how to address the project’s challenges and financial implications.