Member of parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George,has criticized President Akufo-Addo for spending $54 million on stalled National Cathedral project, accusing him of deceiving Ghanaians by misusing state funds for a venture that was initially presented as a personal pledge to God.
In an interview on Channel One TV‘s Face to Face with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Tuesday, October 1, Sam George criticised the President for deceiving Ghanaians by using state funds for the project, which Akufo-Addo claimed was a pledge to God.
George argued that Akufo-Addo failed to disclose his intention to use public funds, instead misleading citizens into believing he would fund the cathedral personally.
The lawmaker alleged that President Akufo-Addo has entangled God’s name in the National Cathedral controversy, which has been marred by corruption.
According to Sam George, the project’s association with corruption undermines its original purpose and tarnishes the President’s pledge to God.
‘’The cost of the Ecobank headquarters. That building cost less than $30 million. That whole building and $54 million has given us just a hole’’.
“When President Akufo-Addo said he made a pledge to God, that pledge didn’t involve using state funds. And even if state funds were to be used in a manner, are you comfortable, as a person of faith? Forget Christain, as a person of faith are you comfortable?
“I’m distraught in my spirit, that if anybody who was atheist and did not believe in the existence of God. And saw that National Cathedral hole, that in itself was a reason for them to say this is why there should be no God, Because why would you take $54 million and dig a hole?
Why would you have all the corruption that has been saddled in the building of the Cathedral all in the name of God? Why have we dragged the name of God in the mud?
“For me, that is unacceptable and that is why for me, I will not support and I cannot support that enterprise, because clearly, that enterprise is not worth it.
In a statement dated Tuesday, September 24, the chairman of the board, Apostle Professor Opoku Onyinah, said construction on the National Cathedral project is set to resume.
Apostle Onyinah made the announcement following a September 20 meeting between the Board of Directors of the National Cathedral of Ghana and auditors from Deloitte.
He confirmed that the audit report is now ready, clearing the way for construction to resume.
In the last seven years, Ghana’s taxpayers have expended $58 million on the project which, in August 2024, has not progressed as the government had hoped.
An estimated $450 million is needed to complete the project and it is not clear if that amount is yet available to complete the construction.
By mid-2022, various church denominations had contributed GH¢2.21 million ($164,000) towards the construction of the national cathedral. Though a large sum, the amount is not sufficient on its own to pay the remaining costs of construction.
“I believe Ecobank’s head office was built for less than $30 million, yet $54 million has only given us a hole,” – @samgeorgegh on the national cathedral
#FaceToFace with @UmaruSanda . pic.twitter.com/l0KfSNpHTK
— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) October 2, 2024
