Deputy AG Srem-Sai provides update on National Cathedral case

The Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, has given an update on the state’s investigation into the National Cathedral of Ghana scandal.

Speaking in a recent interview on GHOne TV, Dr Srem-Sai indicated that the criminality in the case has to do with the use of state funds for the project without the requisite approval.

He added that the ongoing audit of the books of the cathedral is to find out the total amount of money that was used without approval.

“The investigations are ongoing on the National Cathedral. What we have now is a question of auditing. So we have engaged external auditors who are trying to quantify how much is recoverable.

“… monies were spent which did not get the right or proper approval — the legal approval. And so that is why I said auditing to quantify that amount of money,” he said.

He added, “What we have in the public domain is information generally saying that you have spent this amount of money, but not that the whole amount is criminal. A component of it was spent without proper approval. That is what we are zeroing in on.”

The deputy attorney general also asserted that the main challenge the general public had with the National Cathedral project had to do with prioritisation.

He said that people were not happy with the decision of the then government to go on with the construction of the cathedral while the country was facing economic challenges.

“And don’t forget, the main issue with the National Cathedral was one of priority. So Ghanaians were angry with that project because it came at a time when things were hard for Ghanaians. People’s pensions were being given haircuts, as we knew it, and then we were building a cathedral. I think that was the main point of anger.

“But that is not a crime. I mean, it was a government priority (then). If government says that, ‘I’ll let the people die and I’ll build a cathedral,’ you can’t really charge the government for making that decision. The punishment for that is when you subject yourself to a popular election; they will vote against you,” he said.

Watch a video of the deputy minister’s remarks below:

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