Okudzeto Slams Akufo-Addo for “Insulting” Payments to National Cathedral Staff Amidst Economic Struggles

Hon. Samuel Okudzeto, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu and Chairman of the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL), has sharply criticised the outgoing Akufo-Addo administration for continuing to make significant salary payments to staff of the National Cathedral Secretariat, despite the project’s mounting controversies.

In a statement posted on social media platform X, Okudzeto condemned President Akufo-Addo’s failure to address the scandalous US$58 million National Cathedral project during his recent State of the Nation Address, calling the president’s silence on the matter both “loudly silent” and “insulting” to the Ghanaian public.

Okudzeto revealed that intercepted payment records showed that the staff of the National Cathedral Secretariat were paid large sums for December 2024, with amounts ranging from GHS 20,721.00 to GHS 29,838.00 per individual.

He decried the payments as an example of “reckless financial mismanagement” in a period when many Ghanaians are struggling under economic hardship.

“Four days ago, the staff of the National Cathedral Secretariat were paid salaries in excess of GHS 20,000 each, despite the fact that the cathedral project was declared illegal by CHRAJ,” Okudzeto stated. “This is an insult to the taxpayers of Ghana, who are bearing the brunt of this irresponsible governance.”

The payments, which continued to be disbursed despite a November CHRAJ report declaring the cathedral project unlawful, were also condemned by Okudzeto, who argued that they amounted to a “financial loss to the state” after the project was abandoned over 33 months ago.

Okudzeto emphasised that the continuing payments defied logic and fairness, especially in light of the fact that the CHRAJ report recommended prosecution of those involved in the cathedral project. He expressed disbelief that President Akufo-Addo, who once described the cathedral as a “priority of priorities,” would remain silent about the scandalous payments.

“President Akufo-Addo should be more embarrassed by the continued payment of these salaries than by the silence on his cathedral fiasco,” Okudzeto declared.

The MP also criticised the outgoing administration for its persistent failure to manage public resources responsibly. He described the situation as one of “unconscionable dissipation” of taxpayer funds, further noting that the National Cathedral project had turned into a symbol of financial recklessness.

In his statement, Okudzeto celebrated the December election results, which saw the New Patriotic Party (NPP) suffer a humiliating defeat, and declared that the “cruel dissipation” of public funds would soon come to an end.

He predicted that the incoming government would end the practice of paying staff at the National Cathedral Secretariat and that the controversial cathedral project would be dissolved shortly after taking office.

“Thanks to the wise decision of Ghanaians to hand out a humiliating defeat to the NPP in the December elections, this cruel dissipation of our taxes is over!” he stated. “There will be no January 2025 salary payments for the National Cathedral Secretariat, and those who were behind this financial fiasco will have to account for their actions.”