National Cathedral: Akufo-Addo paid over GHS32m in 2021 only on “consultancy” services - Ablakwa

It has emerged that in 2021, the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government paid over GHS32 million to David Adjaye, a Ghanaian-British architect, for “consultancy” services on the construction of the national cathedral.

A document sighted by Ghanaguardian.com at the Twitter page of North Tongu MP, Hon. Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa reveals the office of the President authorize the payment a whopping GHS 32,070,103.02 to be paid to Sir David Adjaye & Associates Limited.

The said according to the document was meant for “consultancy services on new bids opening and interviewing of contractors rendered on the national cathedral project”.

Documents from the Office of the President confirm that in 2021 alone, Prez Akufo-Addo authorized an astonishing GHS32million of taxpayer funds to be paid to Sir David Adjaye & Associates Ltd for consultancy on his National Cathedral project.
GHS57million so far; more to come. pic.twitter.com/8b1kgYZVsM

— Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) June 3, 2022

This comes in the midst of the controversies surrounding the allege release of some GHS25 million by the government towards the same project.

In a Twitter post on Thursday, June 2, 2022, Mr. Ablakwa alleged that President Akufo-Addo has authorized the release of GHS25 million for the construction of the National Cathedral.

The MP expressed shock over the development as according to him, it is "insensitive" for this government to infuse such amount of money into the national cathedral project when its citizenry are suffering from economic hardships.

The obviously worried Ablakwa in a post on Twitter observed that the amount released by Nana Akufo-Addo could cater for the arrears owed Nation Builders’ Corps (NABCo) trainees, school feeding caterers and National Service Personnel, who the government has failed to pay for several months.

“Considering the current debilitating economic crisis, why is the Akufo-Addo govt releasing a colossal GH¢25 million for the National Cathedral project?

“Shockingly, this is the same government claiming lack of funds to pay NABCo trainees, School feeding caterers, service personnel,” he wrote in portions of his tweet.

Despite the negative reactions from a section of the populace, the President has stated that the national cathedral project is as important as any development project in Ghana.

The much touted project which is to be built by the Christian community in Ghana is to cost about $250 million.