Claims by Duncan-Williams and Rev Eastwood Anaba of ‘no audit’ false – National Cathedral Secretariat

The National Cathedral Secretariat has rebuffed claims of lack of information and transparency made by Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams and Rev Eastwood Anaba after they resigned as Board members.

The two respected clergymen resigned from the National Cathedral Board on Tuesday and cited a lack of information in the management of the project and failure to conduct an audit into its expenditure.

In response to the allegations, however, Dr. Paul Opoku-Mensah, Executive Director of the National Cathedral Project, has clarified that the claims on the audit process are false and reaffirmed the project’s commitment to integrity and transparency.

In a statement issued on Wednesday 18th October 2023, he emphasized that the Board had rejected a January 23, 2023 resolution by Archbishop Duncan-Williams and Rev Anaba on the grounds of redundancy and undue politicization of the project.

“The allegations of lack of information and halting the audit process are unfounded. We have diligently kept all Board members, including Archbishop Duncan-Williams and Rev Anaba, updated on the audit progress through regular meetings and documented reports. The audit, conducted by Deloitte, is well underway, and we are cooperating fully to ensure its completion,” Dr. Opoku-Mensah stated.

“Their resolution, calling for a complete cessation of work until after the 2024 elections, was deemed unnecessary as the audit was already on the agenda. Moreover, linking the project to political motives was not in the best interest of the National Cathedral and its objectives,”  he added.

He highlighted the politicization attempts surrounding the project, stating, “We are aware of efforts to politicize and spread misinformation about the National Cathedral. However, we remain steadfast in our commitment to integrity and transparency. The audit findings, which are being carried out by Deloitte, will be shared with the public, demonstrating the project’s genuine intentions.”

Dr. Opoku-Mensah clarified that the engagement letter with Deloitte was signed in March, and the audit process has been progressing as planned.

The Secretariat urged the public to remain patient and assured that the project’s integrity would be upheld throughout the audit.

Find a copy of the release below:

Eastwood AnabaNational CathedralNicholas Duncan-Williams