Although it has been confirmed that the National Cathedral is a public project, North Tongu Member of Parliament Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa claims that the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) has no data on the project.
On Thursday, July 7, Mr. Ablakwa stated during a news conference in Parliament that all projects, whether public or in a public-private partnership, should follow the procurement regulations. He clarified that the cathedral was an exception to this rule.
He claimed that another issue that has surfaced is the duty bearers' failure to subject the cathedral to PPA legislation.
This adds another level of controversy. In answer to our RTI request, the Public Procurement Authority has said unequivocally and unequivocally that they have absolutely no records at all regarding the building of the National Cathedral.
If you read Section 14 1(a) of the Public Procurement Act (PPA) Act 2003 Act 663, it is very apparent that any project that is partially or entirely supported with public monies is subject to Ghana's procurement legislation, according to Mr. Ablakwa.
Remember that the National Cathedral Secretariat issued the following statement on Friday, June 17, to put an end to the argument over whether the project is state- or privately-owned: "In his first official announcement on the project on March 6, 2017, the President underscored the nature of the project as a national cathedral for interdenominational worship services for the nation.
"Following further explanation, three primary reasons emerged as the project's justification: I an act of gratitude. The personal commitment became connected with the Cathedral as a "private" enterprise that needed to be created without state funding, out of these three reasons.
"To prevent any misunderstanding, the National Cathedral is a National Monument and is therefore a public, not a private, undertaking. The National Cathedral of Ghana was officially formed on July 18, 2019, in accordance with the Companies Act, 1963 (Act 179), and is a state-owned corporation limited by guarantee. The question of whether the National Cathedral is a private or public endeavour should now be resolved, in our opinion. The National Cathedral is not a private project but a national asset and monument. But the government and the church are working together to create it.