<<Print>>

A Presidential Staffer and spokesperson for the Bawumia campaign team, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has issued a reply to Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu on the state of the National Cathedral.

The completion and commissioning of the National Cathedral was slated for March 6, 2024, however the project seems to be at a standstill.

On Wednesday, 6th March, some members of the opposition National Democratic Congress(NDC) stormed the construction site of the National Cathedral to commission it.

Addressing the press at the site, Okudzeto Ablakwa said, “I am glad, however, that at the precincts of the World’s Most Expensive US$58million Pit, on the day President Akufo-Addo promised God, Parliament, and the Ghanaian people that he will commission his US$450million priority of priorities National Cathedral project, we perfectly executed our accountability mission for God and Country."

“We are grateful to all patriotic Ghanaians for the overwhelming support and solidarity.”

Speaking further, he demanded an accountability of the revenues that was pushed into the project and an explanation on why the projects has not been completed as promised by the President, Nana Akufo- Addo.

He demanded, “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;

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;

“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;

“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;

“Board of Trustees must be dissolved without delay; National Cathedral Secretariat should be immediately closed. So far this secretariat has received GHS225,962,500. (Refer to organogram as attached); 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.”

In a rebuttal to Okudzetos demands, Miracles Aboagye said on his X page, ”These are the people who inherited 8 Euroget Hospitals from President Kuffour, spent 8 years in government and still couldn’t complete, leaving it for @NAkufoAddo and the NPP to come complete.

“These are the guys who used the money meant for hospital constructions for their election research.

“These are the guys who decided to spend State funds to build Day schools mostly in the forest, 10s of kilometers from the community and left them uncompleted, not fit for purpose and unusable. These are the guys who captured 3D artistic impressions in a green book and attempted to hoodwink everyone as projects done.

“These people launched a Hope city project, captured international Media, BBC, CNN et al and didn’t lay a single block.

“These people want to come to power to form a government. Their elders are snoring, deeply asleep.”