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The former Auditor General, Daniel Domelevo, has reiterated calls to protect the public purse, emphasising that state funds must be managed in accordance with the constitution governing the country.
Speaking on the National Cathedral controversy, which involves the board of trustees of the project, all of whom are members of the clergy, Mr Domelevo opined that public revenues should not be entrusted to the protection of theology.
Last month, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) recommended a forensic audit and potential prosecution of the trustees of the National Cathedral project.
This came after an investigation into allegations of corruption and abuse of power regarding the controversial project.
Speaking at an event on curbing illicit financial flows in Ghana, Mr Domelevo said, “Unfortunately, the trustees are all men of God, but let me say we don’t manage public funds with the Bible or theology; we manage public funds with the constitution.”
He added that other laws of the country, including the Public Procurement Act and the Internal Audit Act can be used to manage revenues and “not the Bible.”
He stressed that the board members should have obeyed the laws and not the Bible, arguing that the Bible “cannot save you this time.”
He was speaking during the forum organised by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) in Accra on Tuesday, December 3.
A report issued by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) on the National Cathedral project revealed that the board of trustees mismanaged a sum of GHC2.6 million, which they could not account for.
The report recommended that the Auditor General conduct a forensic investigation into the scandal and consider possible prosecution of the board members involved.
CHRAJ investigated the scandal after the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, petitioned them.
Despite the cathedral being at its foundation level, over GHC50 million has been spent on the project, resulting in a significant loss to the state.
The National Cathedral is a promise made by the president, Nana Akuffo-Addo to construct the facility to honour God.
source: myjoyonline.com
