President John Dramani Mahama has mandated a comprehensive forensic audit into the National Cathedral Project and the operations of its Secretariat. This decision was disclosed by the Minister for Government Communication, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, during a press briefing at Jubilee House, Accra, on July 18.
The directive instructs the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, to lead the audit process with an aim to uncover any financial discrepancies and administrative faults associated with the project. Furthermore, Dr. Ayine is tasked with initiating steps to lawfully terminate the existing contract to prevent further financial losses to the state.
This move follows revelations from a Deloitte audit report that flagged serious financial irregularities in the execution of the National Cathedral Project. However, Mr. Kwakye Ofosu emphasized that Deloitte’s assessment did not fully cover all operations of the National Cathedral Secretariat. Consequently, the Auditor-General has been requested to commission a thorough forensic audit to provide a complete evaluation.
The National Cathedral was originally conceptualized as a landmark religious and cultural monument. Planned features include a Bible Museum, Biblical Garden, banquet hall, a 350-seater restaurant, library, and a conference center, envisioned to promote faith-based tourism and foster a strong sense of national pride.
Following the completion of the forensic audit, the government has committed to taking decisive actions to address any identified misconduct and determine the future of the project.
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