North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has stated that the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has confirmed that the National Cathedral project, originally intended to be a privately funded initiative, was financed by taxpayer funds without parliamentary oversight.

Mr Ablakwa, who initiated a petition for the investigation, described CHRAJ's findings as "damning and explosive," accusing the government of deliberate deception.

He stated that the project was conducted "on the blind side of Parliament and the public" despite repeated assurances from the President that no public funds would be involved.

“This whole project started on the basis of deception—a grand attempt to mislead the general public and the clergy,” Mr Ablakwa said.

• Read also: National Cathedral: CHRAJ recommends investigation, contract cancellation, possible prosecution

The lawmaker added “You recall, the President said that they were not using public funds. This was a private project, CHRAJ has confirmed what we discovered, that apparently on the blind side of Parliament, on the blind side of all of us, contrary to the assurances we had been given, this project, was a public project which was being massively funded by taxpayer funds.”

According to him, CHRAJ’s report also revealed severe lapses in transparency and accountability, including breaches of procurement laws, concluding that there are reasonable grounds for corruption and related offenses, recommending prosecution of those involved.

CHRAJ further called for the Auditor General to immediately conduct a forensic audit to assess the usage of funds, and a value-for-money audit to determine if the $58 million spent on the project reflects the current state of construction.

• Read also: CHRAJ clears Rev. Kusi Boateng of conflict of interest, says he doesn’t own 2 passports with different names

For this reason, Mr Ablakwa believes that CHRAJ report validates concerns raised about the project’s mismanagement and lack of oversight. He noted that the evidence presented in the report debunks claims that criticism of the project was baseless propaganda.

“So this is a very, very damning report which confirms all the things we have been talking about and those who sought to create the impression that we were just engaged in propaganda and that we didn't have any basis for the criticism against the National Cathedral project. I believe that the evidence - What CHRAJ has put forth should settle the matter.”