Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says come Monday, January 16, he will launch an exposé that will shake the foundations of the National Cathedral of Ghana project.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) lawmaker has been consistent with his criticism of the project since its inception in 2018.
His criticism, according to him, has attracted name-calling, some of which he mentions as Tobiah, ‘naysayer’ and ‘anti-Christ’.
The Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament brought to light the “wanton” withdrawal of funds from the country’s contingencies to support the project, against the very assurances given by the government.
He had a bust-up with Gabby Otchere Darko, the legal representative of Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, when he appeared before the eight-member ad hoc committee set up by the Speaker, Alban Sumana Bagbin, seeking his removal by censure.
This consistent monitoring of the project is what Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa says has attracted the name-calling.
Who licensed JNS to be loaning money to government agencies? – @S_OkudzetoAblak questions explanation on Gh2.6m paid to talent company by National Cathedral Secretariat#3NewsGH#TheKeyPoints pic.twitter.com/BtBm0O9ctd
— #3NewsGH (@3NewsGH) January 14, 2023
But he told Paa Kwesi Asare on The Keypoints on TV3 on Saturday, January 14 that he will not relent in his criticism of the project because it is a “personal pledge” of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s and not supposed to see the dissipation of state resources.
He pointed out that even the demolition of buildings including a heritage structure like the Scholarship Secretariat, from where past leaders of the country got sponsorship to pursue higher education abroad, has been at a high cost to the country.
“I am pursuing what is expected of me under the Ghanaian constitution and indeed under the whole principle of checks and balances,” he stressed.
‘Galamsey site’
He revealed that Monday’s exposé will be the “mother of all scandals” since the project started and Ghanaians will be shocked by it.
For him, the project, which he describes as a “galamsey site”, must not escape accountability.
“There has to be a full forensic probe into this National Cathedral project. That’s the first thing we must do.”
He announced: “Monday, the mother of all [National] Cathedral scandals will be outdoored.”