Nat’l Cathedral: ‘There are no missing funds that could not be accounted for’ – Secretariat

Nat’l Cathedral: ‘There is no lost fund that cannot be accounted for’ – Secretariat

The Executive Director of the National Cathedral Secretariat, Dr Paul Opoku Mensah has refuted claims that some funds for the National Cathedral project are unaccountable.

Addressing the press on Monday January 2 after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo visited the stalled project and donated the sum of GHS100,000, Dr Opoku Mensah said there is no lost fund that cannot be accounted for.

“For the purpose of clarity, I would like to report the verbatim memo sent on this issue on January 19, 2022 and addressed to the Clerk of Parliament. The indication is that the government has given us GH?339 million, and we can state GH?225 million leaving GH?114 million lost.

“Here, I am quoting what I wrote to the Officer. As indicated to the Committee on Thursday, December 15, 2022, the total amount paid by the Government of Ghana for the National Cathedral project is GH¢339 million. This amount is made up of the following: the amount paid directly to the National Cathedral Secretariat is GH?225 million. The amount paid directly to Consultants, Adjaye Associates & Design Team is GH?113,040,54.67 million.

Dr. Opoku Mensah “Therefore, there are no missing funds that cannot be accounted for. Second, a detailed account for the funds was provided to Parliament on December 15, 2022, by the Secretariat. In the case of accounting from the Secretariat, this includes, among others, the total payments made to contractor, and total payment to the Bible Museum and Bible Garden Design Team.

Fr as President Akufo-Addo said he is committed to ensuring that the National Cathedral Project is completed.

He said the project will be completed for the glory of God.

“As I said before, the National Cathedral will not be just another monument that adorns the skies of Accra, but it will be a gathering point for all Christian communities to come together and worship… to ensure the completion of this project for the glory of God,” he said.

It was recalled that Parliament did not approve the controversial GHS80 million earmarked for the construction of the National Cathedral.

For this purpose, the amount is channeled to the Communications and Roads sector.

Prior to this, the Ranking Member in the joint committee of Trade, Industry and Tourism, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, on Tuesday, December 20, 2022 presented the decision of the Minority vote to reject the budget estimate for the building of the National Cathedral as seized. in the 2023 budget statement for Ghanaians.

He said the decision was a victory for all Ghanaians because the previous allocation for the project was not properly accounted for.

Eleven Minority MPs against 10 Majority MPs, therefore, voted against the allocation of GH¢80 million for the continuation of the project.

By Laud Nartey|3news.com|Ghana

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