Opposition Members of Parliament, led by North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, took a satirical approach by symbolically commissioning the uncompleted National Cathedral project, aiming to spotlight the government’s perceived failure to complete it.
Initially, the MPs faced resistance from security personnel when attempting to access the construction site of the controversial National Cathedral, preventing them from delivering a statement on-site.
Originally scheduled for commissioning on March 6, as announced by former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta in the 2021 budget statement, the cathedral has faced criticism, particularly from minority MPs, regarding its expenditure.
Despite being denied entry to the construction site, the minority MPs reached an agreement with security to conduct a press conference at the entrance, expressing their discontent with the ongoing project and its costs.
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Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu and key critic of the project said the government needs to present a comprehensive report on costs, the status of demolished properties, and the suspension of the main contractor.
“We are demanding full accountability of what happened to our $58,141,509.52. We also want to know why the contractors abandoned this project for lack of payment two years ago,” he told reporters.
— Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) March 6, 2024
A project marred with many controversies
A pet project of President Akufo-Addo, the National Cathedral has faced controversy due to its cost and use of state resources.
At the start of the project, the government had said the project was not stated-funded – that the state only provided seed money and the land for its construction. Despite that, the government has so far spent about $58 million from state coffers on the project.
While many have called the venture an unnecessary undertaking, supporters of the President’s cause have argued that the country stands to benefit from an iconic infrastructure that will not only provide a sacred place for the nation but also be an engine for financial sustainability.
In December 2023, former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta proposed reevaluating discussions on the cathedral’s construction. While he urged for a constructive approach to ongoing debates and controversies surrounding the cathedral project, he noted it could potentially contribute to Ghana’s economic development.
