MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has called on the National Cathedral Secretariat to publish the audit report that purportedly cleared the National Cathedral project of any adverse findings.
According to him, the Secretariat’s interpretation of the report should be taken with a pinch of salt until the full document is made public.
“Nobody has seen the 2020 audit report, they must publish the report. If they believe they have been cleared, and that no adverse findings have been made against you, publish the full report. What they have put out there is an interpretation being made by the National Cathedral Secretariat,” he said.
Speaking on TV3’s The Key Points on October 5, 2024, Ablakwa revealed that $58.1 million has been spent on the National Cathedral project, excluding $3.5 million in donations received globally.
He emphasised that this amount represents taxpayer funds and urged transparency from the Secretariat.
“A colossal amount of $58.1 million has been sunk into the National Cathedral project. This is just taxes – our taxpayer’s funds used for the project. This does not include donations that have come in from all over the world, the $3.5 million donation,” he added.
The National Cathedral Secretariat had previously stated that an audit by Deloitte for the year-end 2020 found no adverse issues and confirmed that proper books of accounts were maintained per the Companies Act, 2019 (Act 922).
This statement was issued by Apostle Professor Opoku Onyina, Chairman of the National Cathedral Board, following a meeting with Deloitte and church leaders on September 20.
The Board acknowledged the lengthy audit process, which began in July 2023, but appreciated Deloitte’s thorough approach, including detailed circularization procedures involving all parties related to the project’s finances.
ID/AE
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