North Tongu Member of Parliament Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa stated that despite the suspension of the National Cathedral project, evidence shows that illegal withdrawals continued on March 31, 2022, with no contractors returning to the site.
He has demanded that full accountability be rendered.
“The National Cathedral Secretariat has been forced to confirm what I stated on June 9: the cathedral project has been suspended by the contractors due to a lack of payment.”
“Despite the suspension on March 14, 2022, evidence shows that illegal withdrawals continued on March 31, 2022, with no contractors returning to the site.”
“Meanwhile, the lead contractor — Rizanni de Eccher S.p.A. — has removed Ghana’s National Cathedral from its list of global landmarks.”
“We need complete accountability right now,” he tweeted.
The project’s suspension was reportedly brought on by financial difficulties.
Contractors Ribade Company Limited informed workers in letters seen by 3news.com that the project has been suspended due to “lack of payment from the National Cathedral of Ghana.”
One of the employees received a letter of termination stating, “In compliance with such an obligation under the contract, RIBADE COMPANY LTD has no choice but to issue this letter of notice terminating the agreement between RIBADE COMPANY LTD and you as per the provisions of your employment agreement.”
Read this: Controller pays GH¢485m as COLA to public sector workers.
The termination notice became effective on Monday, March 14. Meanwhile, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, who has been leading a crusade for accountability on the project, claims that withdrawals were still made by the National Cathedral Secretariat until Thursday, March 31 “without the contractors returning to the site.”
The National Cathedral Sect has been compelled to confirm what I put out since June 9 that the cathedral project has been suspended by the contractors due to lack of payment.
Despite the suspension, evidence shows illegal withdrawals continued.
We need full accountability NOW! pic.twitter.com/YBnFK91nbd
— Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) August 31, 2022
According to him, the lead contractors have even removed the project from their website’s list of global projects.
Separately, the Secretariat’s Executive Director, Dr Paul Opoku-Mensah, is hoping that funds will be raised from Ghanaians to restart the work.
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