Minister of State for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has revealed that Mobile Money (MoMo) donations amounting to over GH¢38.3 million received by the National Cathedral Secretariat remain unreconciled, with no financial records available for the years 2022 and 2023.
The shocking revelations stand in stark contradiction to earlier claims by the Board of Directors of the National Cathedral project, who stated in a public communiqué that an audit by Deloitte and Touche confirmed all state funds and donations were properly accounted for, with disbursements based on contracts and actual work done.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Jubilee House, Mr. Ofosu stated that a total of GH¢38,294,693 in mobile money transactions were unaccounted for due to failed or unverified transfers. These transactions, he explained, could not be validated against any third-party or bank statements, casting doubt on the reliability of the donation figures released by the Cathedral Secretariat and raising serious concerns about the integrity of the donation management system.
Further examination uncovered inconsistencies in the 2021 records for donations received via the designated ShortCode and MomoPayID platforms. According to Mr. Ofosu, the trial balance for that year revealed a variance of GH¢42,791 for ShortCode receipts and GH¢72,944 for MomoPayID receipts when compared to the official donation schedules. Alarmingly, no such records were made available for 2022 and 2023, a lapse that has raised further questions about the continuity of proper record-keeping and financial transparency.
“Notably, a total of 38,294,693 Ghana Cedis in mobile money transactions remain unreconciled due to failed or unsuccessful transfers. These transactions could not be validated with any external party, casting significant doubts on the reliability of reported donation figures and the integrity of the donation management system. Furthermore, inconsistencies were identified in the 2021 records of donations received through the ShortCode and MomoPayID platforms.” he stated
The Minister also highlighted significant lapses in internal control mechanisms, citing irregular documentation and missing audit trails that should have been established for public financial accountability.
Further revelations was involving the Executive Director of the National Cathedral Secretariat, who reportedly requested and received a loan of GH¢2.6 million from JNS Talent Centre, a private entity. No formal loan agreement could be found outlining the terms, interest, repayment plan, or the legal basis for the transaction. Despite the lack of documentation, the amount was subsequently repaid to JNS Talent Centre using funds from the National Cathedral project.
“The absence of a formal agreement raises serious red flags regarding transparency, due diligence, and potential conflict of interest.” he stated.
The audit further exposed worrying administrative and financial irregularities within the Secretariat, including inadequate donor documentation, flawed accounting systems, and failure to adhere to basic governance standards.