Former Auditor-General Daniel Yaw Domelevo has called on the Attorney-General and the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to investigate the National Cathedral project and ensure accountability for using public funds.
Mr. Domelevo emphasized the need for strict adherence to constitutional provisions and financial management laws.
“Public funds cannot be managed with the Bible and theology but with the Constitution, the Public Procurement Act, the Internal Audit Act, and the Public Financial Management Act,” he stated.
Speaking at a multi-stakeholder forum on Tuesday, December 3 organized by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) on the theme “Curbing Illicit Financial Flows Through Accountable Governance – The Role of the Media,”
Mr. Domelevo stressed that the fact that most of the National Cathedral’s trustees are clergymen does not exempt them from adhering to the laws governing the expenditure of public funds.
Referencing the findings of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), which recently investigated the project following a petition by North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Mr. Domelevo urged the Attorney-General and the OSP to take over where CHRAJ left off.
“I agree with CHRAJ’s recommendation. If you read Article 218(e) of the 1992 Constitution, it provides that following their investigation, they submit their findings to the Attorney-General for further action,” he stated.
Mr. Domelevo pointed out that CHRAJ had recommended a forensic audit and value-for-money analysis, which fall squarely within the Attorney-General’s and the OSP’s mandates.
The former Auditor-General also charged the media to continue exposing corruption and abuses of power in Ghana’s governance system.
He said, “We must fight corruption, not because it is simple or pleasant—it is undoubtedly risky. Fighting corruption is dangerous because corruption will fight back. If you are making an impact, corruption and its beneficiaries will resist you with everything they have.”
He lamented the state’s failure to uphold Article 35(a) of the 1992 Constitution, which mandates measures to eliminate corrupt practices and abuse of power.
“The state has not only failed to meet this responsibility but has made it easier for perpetrators of corruption to thrive. This is a betrayal of the principles of state policy,” he added.
Mr. Domelevo also drew attention to reports by the Auditor-General that indicated significant misapplication of public funds related to the National Cathedral project.
“I’m aware of reports that about 60% of the funds allocated were applied for other purposes. Close to $12 million was paid for reasons that remain unjustified. Those monies must be recovered, with interest, and used to benefit the public,” he stressed
Mr. Domelevo urged the Attorney-General and the OSP to prioritize recovering funds and holding individuals accountable and expressed hope for collaboration between accountability institutions.
According to him, when he was in office, these institutions achieved progress by working together and expressed hope the OSP and the Attorney-General go the same way.
Ghana, he said, deserves better accountability for the misuse of public funds.
The call from Mr. Domelevo adds to the growing pressure for transparency and accountability in the National Cathedral project, which has drawn widespread scrutiny over its financial management and prioritization amidst national challenges.
