National Cathedral: CHRAJ recommends forensic audit and possible prosecution
The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has recommended a forensic audit of the National Cathedral project and the prosecution of its trustees following an inquiry into allegations of corruption and abuse of authority.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the MP for North Tongu, raised concerns about the project’s openness and compliance with Ghana’s procurement laws in a petition that led to the findings, which were detailed in a report dated November 22, 2024.
Procurement Breaches
Significant violations of Ghana’s procurement laws were found during CHRAJ’s inquiry, especially when Ribade Company Ltd. was given the building contract. The contract was declared “void ab initio” by the report because it did not adhere to the Procurement Act’s necessary clauses (Act 663, as amended by Act 914).
In its recommendations, CHRAJ urged the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) to terminate the contract.
“The Board of the Public Procurement Authority should intervene to cancel the contract for the construction of the National Cathedral between the National Cathedral and Ribade Company, as it has the power to do so under the Procurement Act.”
Forensic Audit and Financial Concerns
Additionally, the Commission requested that the Auditor-General carry out a forensic investigation of the project. The entire amount spent as of May 31, 2022, was GHS225,962,500.00, which included symposia, consultant costs, fundraising in the US, contractor mobilization, and site preparation. Concerns over value for money were raised by CHRAJ, which pointed out that the project is still unfinished.
“This sum of money has been expended on-site preparation, contractors’ mobilization, US fundraising, consultants, and symposia,” the report observed.
“Public interest dictates that there ought to be value for money in project execution. Unfortunately, this Commission has no expertise to determine whether there has been value for money considering the project remains in the same state.”
Reputational Risks
Citing Ribade Company Ltd.’s involvement and the project’s global profile, CHRAJ emphasized the possible harm to Ghana’s reputation. According to the report, breaking procurement laws could result in shame on a global scale.
Call for Legal Action
Because the National Cathedral’s Board of Trustees awarded the contract in breach of procurement laws, the Commission suggested looking into the matter further and possible prosecution of the Board of Trustees.
“The Commission further recommends further investigation and possible prosecution of the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral, who superintended the award of the contract to Ribade Company in disregard of Act 663 as amended,” the report stated.
Background
In January 2023, Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to look into Reverend Victor Kusi-Boateng, the secretary of the National Cathedral Board of Trustees, for alleged conflicts of interest, including holding multiple identities and other wrongdoing.
The petition, which the two CHRAJ deputy commissioners received, also claimed that Rev. Kusi-Boateng, under his second identity, Kwabena Adu Gyamfi, had transferred GH¢2.6 million in cash from the National Cathedral Secretariat to JNS Talent Centre Limited.
Petition
According to Mr. Ablakwa, the petition aimed to use the CHRAJ’s authority under Article 218 of the 1992 Constitution to look into the “odious conflict of interest” surrounding Rev. Victor Kusi-Boateng’s role on the national cathedral board, where he “literally paid his own company a staggering GH¢2.6 million for no work done.”
Kwabena Adu Gyamfi, who was given the GH¢2.6 million by the national cathedral board, was the same person as Rev. Kusi-Boateng, who is also the founder of Power Chapel Worldwide, according to Mr. Ablakwa.
“For the avoidance of doubt, there is no distinct Kwabena Adu Gyamfi. Kwabena Adu Gyamfi is a criminal creation of Rev. Victor Kusi-Boateng. The two are, therefore, the same,” Mr. Ablakwa alleged in a statement on his Facebook wall that preceded the petition.
According to records, Sheila Eshun and Kwabena Adu Gyamfi were also directors of JNS Talent Centre Limited, according to Mr. Ablakwa.
“From unassailable and irreproachable documents in my possession, Rev. Victor Kusi-Boateng, aka Kwabena Adu Gyamfi, uses multiple passports and multiple identification cards with different names and different dates of birth as his special modus operandi.”
