The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has ruled on the allegations of dual identity against Rev. Victor Kusi-Boateng, also known as Kwabena Adu Gyamfi.
According to the Commission, Rev. Kusi-Boateng does not possess two separate passports under different names with varying dates of birth.
This is contrary to claims made by Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. CHRAJ clarified that there is no record of a “Victor Kusi-Boateng” in the passport database.
Instead, the Commission confirmed that Rev. Kusi-Boateng has been issued four ordinary passports, three of which have expired.
CHRAJ noted that Rev. Kusi-Boateng also holds one diplomatic passport. All the passports are under the name Kwabena Adu Gyamfi and bear the same date of birth.
“The 4th Respondent [Rev. Victor Kusi-Boateng] as both director of the National Cathedral and the 5th Respondent company [JNS Talent Center Limited], did not put himself in a position where his personal interest conflicted or was likely to conflict with the performance of the functions of his office as no transaction for the provision of services existed between the National Cathedral and the 5th Respondent company.
“The GHS2,600,000 paid by the National Cathedral of Ghana to the 5th Respondent was a refund of an interest-free short-term loan granted to the National Cathedral by the 5th Respondent company at a time when it needed funds urgently to pay its contractors”.
Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ)
CHRAJ also found that mandatory procurement rules were breached in awarding the National Cathedral contract to Ribade Company Limited. The Board of Trustees was held liable for these violations.
The Commission criticized informal processes in transferring funds to the Cathedral and emphasized the need for proper record-keeping of directors’ meetings to ensure accountability. “Unfortunately, both the National Cathedral of Ghana and the 5th Respondent company failed to take minutes of meetings under which the issue of financial assistance was discussed”.
CHRAJ also stated that the 3rd Respondent’s [National Cathedral] Board Chair said transactions with JNS Talent Centre from 2020 to 2021 were considered routine and not recorded in minutes.
The 5th Respondent admitted to not keeping directors’ meeting minutes, a practice CHRAJ criticized as unacceptable. “It has the potential to cast doubts in the minds of the ordinary man on the integrity of transactions and is a very dangerous practice”.
CHRAJ Highlights Governance Gaps in National Cathedral Fund Handling
Furthermore, the Commission stated that the lack of proper record-keeping is evident in the handling of funds for the National Cathedral.
According to CHRAJ, the 5th Respondent’s resolution to transfer money was dated August 25, 2021, a day before the formal loan request by the 3rd Respondent on August 26, 2021.
CHRAJ noted that the National Cathedral’s Board, mostly clergymen, might lack corporate governance expertise.
Accordingly, the Commission recommended capacity-building sessions by professional bodies like the Institute of Directors Ghana to improve their governance practices.
CHRAJ also stated that as of May 31, 2022, GHS 225.96 million had been spent on the Cathedral project for site preparation, contractor mobilization, fundraising, and consultants.
CHRAJ stressed the need for value for money, especially as the project remains incomplete, though it lacked the expertise to evaluate this.
“Accordingly, the Commission recommends that the Auditor-General should conduct a forensic audit on the construction of the National Cathedral project from its inception to date to ascertain whether monies released for its construction have been properly utilized.
“Having found that the contract awarded to Ribade Company Ltd is void ab initio for being entered into contrary to the mandatory provisions of the Procurement Act, Act 663 as amended by Act 914 the Commission also recommends that the Board of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) should intervene to cancel the contract for the construction of the National Cathedral between the National Cathedral and Ribade company as it has the power to do so under the Procurement Act”.
Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ)
The Commission also recommended further investigation and possible prosecution of the National Cathedral Board of Trustees for awarding the contract to Ribade Company in violation of Act 663.
These procurement breaches risk causing international embarrassment given the global status of the project and Ribade Company. “In conclusion, the Complaint is justified in part at the end of investigations”.
CHRAJ emphatically stated that the conflict of interest claim against the 4th Respondent was found to be without merit.
The Commission noted that, however, allegations of procurement law breaches under Act 663, as amended, were upheld.
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