Executive Secretary of the Board of Trustees for the National Cathedral, Reverend Victor Kusi Boateng, has refuted allegations made by Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, regarding the misappropriation of some Gh₵2.6 million from the Cathedral’s funds.
In an interview on Onua FM with Nana Yaa Brefo and JB, Rev. Boateng addressed the accusations, labeling them as false and baseless. He expressed astonishment at the accusations, stating, “It’s so funny, human beings know the truth but will look upon the face of God and lie. How can a whole MP who come out to say that I’ve stolen Gh₵ 2.6 million, if he does this, how can we build the Cathedral?”
Rev. Boateng clarified that the Gh₵2.6 million in question was not taken for personal gain but was provided as financial assistance to the Cathedral. He explained that the Cathedral was facing financial constraints and urgently needed funds for essential purchases. As a gesture of support, Rev. Boateng offered to assist with the required amount, which was documented in an official letter.
“The person doing this has seen the said documents, he’s seen it privately, he’s seen it publicly that the Cathedral had to make some payments for some items and at the time the Cathedral didn’t have money to support itself.
“As the Secretary, I informed the Secretariat that I had some money that I could help assist make such payments, with that an official letter was written to me,” he explained Thursday, March 07, 2024.
Rev. Boateng further elaborated that after 14 days, the funds were received by the Cathedral, and the trustees transferred the amount back to him.
“There are a lot of lies surrounding the GHc2.6 million. The documents are there, we were in crisis, and a letter was written and directed to me to assist financially and I did, and after 14 days some money came through for the Cathedral and the trustees transferred it back to me,” he said.
Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng’s statement sheds light on the circumstances surrounding the Gh₵2.6 million transaction which according to Ablakwa, was received through the project’s funds under the guise of contractor mobilization.
The politician asserts the man of God attempted to obscure his identity to avoid being found out of conflicts of interest for paying his own company GH¢2.6 million for no work done, using a secondary identity.
Despite legal actions taken by Rev. Kusi Boateng against Ablakwa’s claims, The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) reportedly validated the MP’s findings, dismissing the claims of the member of the Board of Directors of the project.
“This led me to investigate the matter and I discovered that his company JNS Talents Limited, he is there as a director with a different name, Kwabena Adu Gyamfi.
“It was easy for him to create the impression that it wasn’t him and there was no conflict of interest. Until I unravelled what was going on that he was the same person with a different identity for that name, different mother, different date of birth, different diplomatic passport and all of that.
“He took me to court for my findings and the Human Rights courts has also established that the findings from my investigation is accurate and Rev. Kusi [Boateng] has no claim in law and his claims were dismissed, our GH¢2.6 million is with him,” the legislator said.
By Lois Dogbe|Onua FM
