National Cathedral Deal: CHRAJ Wants Probe Into Trustees Including Opoku Onyinah, Duncan-Williams
- The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice has recommended a probe into the National Cathedral project
- The commission justified this recommendation by citing the alleged violation of procurement laws by the Board of Trustees
- It is alleged that Ghana’s procurement laws were flouted in the awarding of the construction contract to Ribade Company
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The divisive National Cathedral project may result in the prosecution of some trustees amid claims that procurement processes were violated.
The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has reportedly recommended a forensic audit of the board members.
The commission justified this by alleging the violation of procurement laws after a petition by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the MP for North Tongu.
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In a statement, CHRAJ stated that had not found any element of corruption in the case but said the breaches noted raised 'reasonable suspicion of corruption'.
The report also highlighted several alleged breaches of Ghana’s procurement laws, particularly in awarding the construction contract to Ribade Company Ltd.
The company was reportedly given the $312 million contract without due process and CHRAJ has urged the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) to cancel it.
The commission's report said the contract was 'invalid from its inception' because it had failed to comply with the mandatory provisions of the Procurement Act.
“The Commission further recommends for further investigation and possible prosecution of the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral who superintended over the award of the contract to Ribade Company in disregard to Act 663 as amended.”
The commission planned to refer the matter to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) or the Attorney-General for further investigations and possible sanctions.
National Cathedral trustees reportedly under scrutiny
The Trustees reportedly under the microscope are:
- Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah: Chairman of the Church of Pentecost (Chairman)
- Archbishop Charles Palmer-Buckle: Metropolitan Catholic Archbishop, Cape Coast (Vice Chairman)
- Rev Victor Kusi-Boateng: Founder of Power Chapel Worldwide (Secretary)
- Most Rev. Bishop Justice Ofei Akrofi: Anglican Archbishop Emeritus (Board Member)
- Rt. Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey: former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church (Board Member)
- Most Rev T. K. Awotwi Pratt: Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church (Board Member)
- Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams: Presiding Archbishop and General Overseer of Action Chapel International (Board Member)
- Rev Dr Joyce Aryee: Executive Director, Salt and Light Ministries (Board Member)
- Bishop Dag Heward-Mills: Presiding Bishop, Lighthouse Group of Churches (Board Member)
- Rev Eastwood Anaba: Founder and President of Eastwood Anaba Ministries (Board Member)
- Rev Dr Frimpong Manso: General Superintendent, Assemblies of God (Board Member)
Archbishop Duncan-Williams and Rev Eastwood Anaba resigned from the Cathedral Board of Trustees previously, expressing concerns about the perceived lack of transparency and the failure to initiate an audit into the project's expenses.
Their resignation grabbed national headlines and has been seen by critics of the project as proof that it is founded on lies and corruption.
In response to these allegations, Dr Paul Opoku-Mensah, Executive Director of the National Cathedral project, said the two respected clergymen's claims that an audit process had been halted were unfounded.
National Cathedral board member justifies salaries
YEN.com.gh also previously reported that a National Cathedral board member called it ridiculous that Ghanaians were arguing against paying salaries to staff members despite the project dragging on.
Dr Joyce Aryee said that despite the cathedral being unbuilt after many years, staff were working hard behind the scenes, while Dr Opoku-Mensah stated that the building was beyond an edifice.
Proofread by Bruce Douglas, senior copy editor at YEN.com.gh
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Source: YEN.com.gh
