The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, has reportedly defended the use of state funds for the National Cathedral of Ghana project by the former Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government.

According to a report by citinewsroom.com, Dr Ayine, in a statement of case opposing the suit filed against the government in 2024, argued that the previous administration’s funding of the cathedral project was lawful and consistent with the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.

He stated that, contrary to the plaintiff’s claims, all payments made for the project by the previous government were lawful because they were made under the Contingency Vote, categorised under “Other Government Obligations,” and not from the Contingency Fund as alleged.

“The National Cathedral is 100% owned by the State. Indeed, the Attorney-General issued an opinion on 6th January 2022 that the National Cathedral is a state-owned company limited by guarantee, under the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board,” the Attorney General is quoted as saying.

He also stated that the National Cathedral project had received approval from the Parliament of Ghana, as it was included in the national budget.

The AG further opposed a challenge by the plaintiff regarding the constitutionality of a $10 billion COVID-19 Relief Bond transaction between the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Ghana under the previous government.

He argued that the transaction fell within the scope of fiscal management measures adopted during the pandemic.

Today in History: Businessman wants Nana Addo cited for contempt over National Cathedral project

About the case:

Jonathan Amable, a private citizen, sued the previous government at the Supreme Court of Ghana, accusing it of engaging in “unconstitutional financial practices,” citing the funding of the National Cathedral project.

He alleged that the previous government contravened Article 179(11) of the 1992 Constitution by financing the National Cathedral’s construction from the Consolidated Fund without the prior approval of the Speaker of Parliament and the Chairperson of the Council of State.

He therefore asked the apex court to declare the financing of the project by the previous government illegal and to order that the money used for the project be repaid to the state.

BAI/MA

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