The National Cathedral Secretariat has refuted allegations that corruption and criminal conduct are involved in the project’s construction.
Dr Paul Opoku-Mensah, the Executive Director of the National Cathedral Secretariat, claims that the cathedral project contains no indication of corruption or illegal activity.
The public has expressed strong disapproval of the cathedral’s development, with some claiming that the government has not been open about the money allotted for building the structure.
Speaking to the media, Dr Opoku-Mensah emphasized that all expenditures related to the construction of the cathedral have been disclosed to Parliament.
“The idea that a project of this nature would not want to be accountable, I cannot understand it, I cannot fathom it. This audit notwithstanding, I want to state categorically that there’s no criminality. We have implemented the project with integrity, including accounting for all the funds from the state to the National Cathedral Project.”
“We have repeated this, and we will repeat it; there’s no criminality in the National Cathedral Project. We have accounted for every penny that we have been given by the state and donors. This accounting is submitted to Parliament; sometimes it’s being misused, but we have submitted everything to Parliament.”
Dr. Paul Opoku-Mensah also highlighted that despite a temporary construction delay, the National Cathedral project remains active.
He stated that efforts are currently underway to secure historical artefacts for the cathedral’s museum and gardens.
“There have been issues that the project has been suspended, but it hasn’t. Construction has stalled, but the National Cathedral is almost an institution; it’s going to be one of the largest institutions, so the work continues daily. In addition to funding, we are already engaging with those who can provide us with artefacts. Because if you want to turn it into a world-class site, you need historical artefacts,” the Executive Director of the National Cathedral Secretariat assured.
The Founder and General Overseer of United Denominations of Action Chapel Churches Worldwide, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, and President of the Eastwood Anaba Ministries, Rev. Eastwood Anaba, resigned from the Board of Trustees overseeing the construction of the National Cathedral in Ghana on October 12.
The founder and leader of the Lighthouse Chapel International, Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, also resigned from the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral project in August 2022.
The National Cathedral, a project initiated to serve as a national place of worship and a symbol of unity and pride for Ghanaians, has been a subject of debate and controversy since its inception.
