The National Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has indicated that, with the exception of the National Cathedral Project, the party will continue and complete all projects started by the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He said the NDC will not abandon any project initiated by the NPP but will complete all uncompleted projects by the NPP.
According to him, resources used in the construction of these projects are state resources, and it is most prudent for successive governments to complete projects started by others.
‘’It is our money that any government uses to start those projects. So whether they are started by us or they are started by another government, if we leave them to rot, we are hurting the community. So when we come, whatever project they may have started apart from the National Cathedral and all the other projects, we will look at them and then see that we complete them,’’ he said at Sisala East in the Upper West region during a campaign activity.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has recommended a forensic audit and prosecution of the board of trustees for the cathedral project over procurement breaches.
The report released follows an investigation conducted into a petition filed at CHRAJ by North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
The MP raised concerns about the project’s transparency and compliance with Ghana’s procurement laws.
The Commission, through its probe, uncovered significant violations of Ghana’s procurement regulations, particularly in awarding the construction contract to Ribade Company Ltd. The report deemed the contract “void ab initio” due to non-compliance with the mandatory provisions of the Procurement Act (Act 663, as amended by Act 914).
It has therefore advised the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) to cancel 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.”
CHRAJ further asked the Auditor-General to conduct a forensic audit of the project. As of May 31, 2022, a total of GHS225,962,500.00 had been spent, covering site preparation, contractor mobilization, fundraising in the United States, consultancy fees, and symposia.
“This sum of money has been expended on-site preparation, contractors’ mobilization, US fundraising, consultants, and symposia,” the report noted.
“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.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
