The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has made a significant recommendation to investigate and possibly prosecute the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral for violating the Procurement Act, Act 663. This decision was reached following an investigation conducted by CHRAJ, which revealed that the $312 million contract awarded to Ribade Company Limited for the construction of the National Cathedral did not comply with mandatory procurement provisions.
The investigation was initiated based on a petition filed by North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa on 16 January 2023. The petition raised concerns about the contractor appointment process and alleged conflicts of interest related to a payment of GH¢2.6 million to JNS Talent Centre Limited, a company owned by Rev. Victor Kusi-Boateng, who also serves as a board member of the National Cathedral.
In a report dated 22 November 2024 and signed by Commissioner Dr Joseph Whittal, CHRAJ disclosed that as of 31 May 2022, over GH¢225 million had already been spent on the project. Given the significant public interest in the matter, CHRAJ emphasized the importance of ensuring value for money in the construction of the National Cathedral.
As a result, CHRAJ has recommended that the Auditor-General should conduct a forensic audit of the National Cathedral project from its inception to date to verify the proper utilization of funds allocated for the project. Additionally, CHRAJ has called for further investigation and potential prosecution of the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral for overseeing the contract award to Ribade Company in violation of Act 663. These breaches of procurement laws could potentially bring international embarrassment to the country, considering the international status of both the National Cathedral and Ribade Company Ltd.
The Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral includes prominent figures such as Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah, Archbishop Charles Palmer-Buckle, Most Rev. Bishop Justice Ofei Akrofi, Most Rev. T. K. Awotwi Pratt, Rt. Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey, Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee, Rev. Victor Kusi-Boateng, Rev. Dr. Frimpong Manso, and Kingsley Ofosu Ntiamoah.
For a detailed look at the CHRAJ report, you can access the full document through the link provided. This development underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in public procurement processes, especially for high-profile projects like the construction of the National Cathedral.
