Dr. Joyce Aryee, a member of the Board of Trustees for Ghana’s National Cathedral project, has strongly defended the decision to maintain salary payments for staff, even as the construction remains paused. Addressing concerns over the stalled project, Dr. Aryee explained that halting salaries during such a period is impractical, as key efforts are still underway to ensure the project’s eventual completion.
She stressed that the delays in raising funds for the Cathedral are part of the natural challenges faced by major projects. “It takes time,” Dr. Aryee said, drawing parallels with the financial challenges often encountered by churches and individuals when embarking on large-scale ventures. She remained optimistic, asserting, “The key word is ‘yet.’”
Her comments came after criticism emerged over the decision to continue salary payments to workers while the project is financially struggling. Detractors argued that paying employees during the hiatus could be seen as mismanagement of funds. However, Dr. Aryee rejected this notion, asserting that many staff members are still actively contributing to the project’s success behind the scenes.
“Even though construction is paused, it doesn’t mean the work stops,” Dr. Aryee remarked. She criticized the idea of cutting off salaries as “ridiculous” and emphasized the importance of sustaining the project’s progress, which goes beyond physical construction.
As fundraising efforts continue, Dr. Aryee urged patience, assuring that the National Cathedral project is still on course for completion, despite the current financial hurdles.
Amid public concerns about the financial transparency of the National Cathedral project, Dr. Joyce Aryee, has assured Ghanaians that a comprehensive audit of the project’s finances is in progress. Dr. Aryee confirmed that the 2021 audit has been completed, and audits for subsequent years are underway. She assured that a full financial review will be made available soon.
“There is nothing to hide,” Dr. Aryee stated, addressing growing demands for clarity on the project’s expenditures. She emphasized that the National Cathedral Secretariat had already made the 2021 audit available to the public, reaffirming their commitment to transparency. However, she expressed concern over what she described as disproportionate scrutiny of the project, pointing out that other institutions, including banks and companies listed on the stock market, do not face the same level of public questioning during their auditing processes.
Dr. Aryee reassured the public that more audit reports would be released in due course, promising that the full financial details of the National Cathedral project would soon be unveiled.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Emmanuel Mensah
