National Cathedral: Gov’t questions payments, overlapping roles involving Nehemiah Group and Associates

The government has uncovered what it describes as troubling financial irregularities and overlapping roles involving The Nehemiah Group, one of the key foreign consultants engaged in the National Cathedral project.

Speaking at a press conference at the Jubilee House on Friday, Government Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu revealed that a recent audit exposed multiple breaches of contract and financial governance in the dealings between the National Cathedral Secretariat and The Nehemiah Group, represented by Mr. Cary Summers.

According to Kwakye Ofosu, although the original contract signed on March 9, 2020, was for a one-year term and subject to renewal by mutual agreement, no formal renewal was done. Yet, payments continued to the group, amounting to USD 523,521.03, a clear breach of contract governance protocols.

In addition, the Nehemiah Group reportedly received USD 110,630.56 to organise fundraising events in Houston and New York, efforts which, according to the audit, yielded no tangible results in donations or investments.

“This raises serious concerns about the prudence of expenditure and the absence of performance-based accountability,” Mr Kwakye Ofosu said.

Perhaps most alarming, he noted, was the overlap of responsibilities and payments between The Nehemiah Group and Kubik Maltbie, a separate subcontractor.

Despite The Nehemiah Group being tasked with coordination and oversight during Phase 1 of the project, Kubik Maltbie was also contracted for similar services at a cost of USD 592,500.

“This figure represents approximately 87% of the total USD 675,000 paid to The Nehemiah Group over the same period,” he stated. “It indicates a clear case of paying two entities for the same work, with no clarity on who was actually doing the work and who may have taken government money unjustifiably.”

The audit also flagged an additional USD 24,498.17 paid to The Nehemiah Group in reimbursable expenses for activities completely unrelated to construction oversight, further highlighting inefficiencies in the project’s financial management.

“These findings reflect poorly on project oversight and raise broader concerns about accountability and the effective use of public resources on a project of national significance,” Mr Kwakye Ofosu said.

The government has assured the public that it will act on the findings of the audit and ensure full accountability.

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