Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Chairman of the newly formed Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) committee, has addressed concerns regarding potential duplication of efforts with existing anti-corruption agencies. He emphasized that the ORAL team, composed of prominent figures including former Auditor-General Daniel Domelovo, retired Commissioner of Police Nathaniel Kofi Boakye, private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu, and investigative journalist Raymond Archer, functions as a preparatory body. Their primary focus is to coordinate information gathering and evidence collection during the presidential transition period, facilitating the recovery of allegedly looted state resources. Ablakwa stressed that ORAL’s work complements, rather than replicates, the efforts of established institutions, ultimately collaborating with them to ensure a seamless handover of gathered information and evidence.
The establishment of ORAL is a key component of President-elect John Mahama’s anti-corruption strategy, aimed at strengthening accountability and restoring public trust in the public sector. Ablakwa highlighted the urgency of the team’s mandate, explaining that the transitional period presents a unique window of opportunity to prevent further misappropriation of state assets and to secure evidence that might otherwise be lost or destroyed. He described a scenario where individuals implicated in corrupt practices might attempt to “regularize the loot” or abscond with public funds, underscoring the need for swift and decisive action during the transition.
ORAL’s strategic approach involves engagement and collaboration with individuals who may possess information relevant to ongoing investigations. The team leverages the incoming administration’s fresh mandate to foster cooperation and gather crucial evidence. Ablakwa assured the public that the team would collaborate with all existing anti-corruption institutions, including the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), the Special Prosecutor’s Office, and the Auditor-General’s Department. He emphasized that ORAL is not intended to supplant these institutions but rather to support their work by supplying collated evidence and facilitating a smooth transition of investigative processes.
Ablakwa’s assurances aim to address potential concerns about the creation of parallel structures and to clarify ORAL’s role within the existing anti-corruption framework. He stressed that the team’s mandate is temporary, serving to bridge the gap between administrations and ensure that ongoing investigations are not compromised during the transition. By focusing on evidence gathering and coordination, ORAL seeks to strengthen the capacity of established agencies to prosecute cases of corruption and recover misappropriated funds. The team’s composition, including individuals with extensive experience in auditing, law enforcement, and investigative journalism, reflects a commitment to a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach to tackling corruption.
In essence, ORAL functions as a temporary task force, capitalizing on the transitional period to gather and preserve evidence, prevent further losses of state assets, and ensure a seamless handover of crucial information to the relevant permanent institutions. This approach aims to maximize the effectiveness of existing anti-corruption mechanisms by providing them with consolidated evidence and facilitating coordinated action. The team’s focus on collaboration and information sharing underscores its commitment to working within the established legal framework and strengthening, rather than duplicating, the efforts of existing agencies.
The ultimate goal of ORAL, as part of President-elect Mahama’s broader anti-corruption strategy, is to restore public trust and ensure accountability within the public sector. By proactively addressing potential loopholes and weaknesses during the transitional period, the team aims to create a stronger foundation for future anti-corruption efforts. The success of this initiative will depend on effective collaboration with existing institutions, diligent evidence gathering, and a commitment to transparency and due process. The public will closely scrutinize ORAL’s activities and its impact on the broader fight against corruption in Ghana.
