Elikem Kotoko, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, has launched a severe critique against former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, asserting that the former leader “used God to scam Ghanaians” through the controversial National Cathedral project. Speaking on the AM Show, Kotoko condemned the initiative as one of the most significant deceptions in Ghana’s recent history, alleging that what was presented as a national monument to honor God ultimately devolved into a political and financial sham.

According to Kotoko, the project deliberately exploited the deep-seated religious sentiments of Ghanaians, failing to demonstrate any meaningful progress despite substantial funds being allocated. He emphatically stated, “This is somebody who could scam even God,” elaborating that President Akufo-Addo leveraged the public's inherent reverence for God to avoid scrutiny and criticism. Kotoko voiced his strong desire to see the former president “hauled to court” to account for the alleged financial irregularities, going so far as to describe the National Cathedral as “an organised crime unit set up to siphon or launder state funds.”

A core element of Kotoko’s accusation centered on the stark inconsistencies between official statements and the actual construction progress at the site. He underscored how the former president had initially pledged to complete the Cathedral within his first term, yet the project remains largely unfinished despite considerable financial investment. Kotoko specifically highlighted a budget announcement where rehabilitation work was claimed to be 90% complete, a figure he sharply contrasted with the reality on the ground, asserting, “A toddler who visits that place will tell you not even 5% has been done.”

The National Cathedral, originally conceived as a national Christian worship and tourism center, has been plagued by controversies from its inception, including accusations of financial mismanagement, severe lack of transparency, and stalled construction. Kotoko further drew a parallel to Côte d’Ivoire’s former Minister Boahen, who, according to Kotoko, financed a place of worship using private funds. This, he argued, sharply contrasts with Akufo-Addo’s approach, which Kotoko views as a broken promise to God himself, especially given its unfulfillment within the initial presidential term.

The visibly angered Forestry Commission executive also conveyed his profound disappointment in the moral conduct of the nation's elderly leaders, lamenting their perceived failure to uphold the virtues expected to be passed down to younger generations. He explicitly stated his belief that the entire National Cathedral undertaking was “another avenue to just scam the entire nation,” suggesting that even respected religious leaders were unwittingly or knowingly used as a facade for corruption. He further implicated the Finance Minister, whom he considered a “criminal at large” in connection with the project's financial opaqueness. Kotoko concluded by reiterating his demand for swift investigations and potential prosecution, emphasizing that such actions are essential to serve as a deterrent for future leaders.