Naagyei 90.3 Fm Agyapa
Daniel Domelevo, the former Auditor General, has reaffirmed calls to safeguard the public coffers, stressing that state monies must be handled in conformity with the nation’s constitution.
Speaking on the dispute surrounding the National Cathedral, which involves the project’s board of trustees, all of whom are clergy, Mr. Domelevo expressed his opinion that public funds shouldn’t be left to theological protection.
The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) suggested last month that the trustees of the National Cathedral project be the subject of a forensic investigation and possible prosecution.
This followed an examination into claims of power abuse and corruption related to the contentious project.
“Unfortunately, the trustees are all men of God, but let me say we don’t manage public funds with the Bible or theology; we manage public funds with the constitution,” Mr. Domelevo remarked during a speech on reducing illicit financial flows in Ghana.
He went on to say that other national legislation, such as the Internal Audit Act and the Public Procurement Act, can be utilised to control revenues and “not the Bible.”
He emphasised that the board members ought to have followed the law rather than the Bible, saying that the latter “cannot save you this time.”
He was addressing on Tuesday, December 3, at the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) meeting in Accra.
The National Cathedral project’s Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) study found that the board of trustees mishandled GHC2.6 million, which they were unable to explain.
The report suggested that the Auditor General look into the incident forensically and think about prosecuting the board members who were implicated.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, petitioned CHRAJ to look into the incident.
Even though the cathedral is just at the foundation stage, the project has cost the state more than GHC50 million, which is a substantial loss.
The president, Nana Akuffo-Addo, promised to build the National Cathedral in order to worship God.
