Mr Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe, a private legal practitioner, has revealed that his client, Hon Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who is the Member of Parliament for the good people of North Tongu, is only interested in unearthing the truth behind the strange payments to JNS Talent Limited by the National Cathedral Secretariat.
Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa, on Monday, January 16, petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to probe the GH₵2.6 million paid to JNS Talent, a company owned by Rev Victor Kusi Boateng, the Secretary of the National Cathedral Board, under a different identity.
Speaking in an interview, Mr Tamakloe explained that the claim that the GH₵2.6 million was a refund is not justifiable, because that amount was paid by JNS Talent to the National Cathedral after an earlier GH₵3.5 million was paid to JNS Talent by the Controller and Accountant General.
“An amount of GH₵3.5 million cedis was paid to this JNS Talent by the Controller and Accountant General. We do know that the Controller disburses public funds. The question is what work did this JNS do for the republic of Ghana to merit the payment of GH¢3.5 million?
“When you look at the Bank statements, you realise curiously that it was after the GH₵3.5 million was paid that they wired GH₵2.6 million to the National Cathedral and then a subsequent payment back to them. It is this that my client, Okudzeto Ablakwa is saying that consistent with article 14 of 1992 and 218 of the article provides that all Ghanaian citizens prevent misuse of public funds and article 218 requires CHRAJ to investigate.”
Godwin
JNS Talent Centre Ltd, which allegedly runs a crèche in Dawhenya, was paid some GH¢2.6 million to help build the cathedral, Mr Ablakwa alleged last Wednesday, January 11.
The lawmaker on Monday, January 16, further alleged that JNS Talent is owned by one Kwabena Adu Gyamfi. According to him, documents in his possession reveal that, Mr Kwabena Adu Gyamfi is the same as Rev. Victor Kusi-Boateng who still serves on the National Cathedral Board as an Executive Council Member.
Ablakwa’s Claims Are A Twisted Narration Of events
Meanwhile, the Secretary to the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral, Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng, has described allegations made against him by the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Hon Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, as a twisted narration of events to pursue a malicious political agenda against him.
The founder and General Overseer of Power Chapel Worldwide in a statement, disclosed that he will avail himself to investigations by the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) after which he will seek redress.
“I have taken note of some defamatory publications and allegations made against my person by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu. I am also informed that Mr Ablakwa has petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate the said allegations he has levelled against me.
“I wish to assure the general public that the statements made by Mr Ablakwa are a twisted narration of events to pursue a malicious political agenda. There has never been any criminal intent nor any crime committed in my dealings with the Government of Ghana or the National Cathedral.”
Mr Kusi
According to the secretary, he looks forward to the(CHRAJ) enquiry during which he will present his side of the matter to the Commission. “I will subsequently also address the matters fully in public without first seeking to prejudice the public mind as he has done. Additionally, when all is done, I will seek redress against Mr Ablakwa for his deliberate defamatory statements against me,” he noted.
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