President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to fighting corruption as he formally received the final report of Operation Recover All Loots (ORAL), a government-led initiative aimed at retrieving misappropriated state funds and assets.
The report, submitted on Monday, February 10, at Jubilee House, compiles 2,417 complaints of alleged financial mismanagement gathered from the public following a nationwide anti-corruption campaign.
Speaking at the official presentation, President Mahama declared that every cedi wrongfully taken from the state would be reclaimed and redirected into national development.
In his speech, President Mahama underscored the devastating impact of corruption, stating that misappropriated public resources should have been invested in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and social development.
He commended the ORAL Committee for their uncompensated dedication in investigating and compiling cases of financial malpractice.
“This report makes for sober reading. It reveals the scale of financial damages that have cost our nation dearly. But it also offers hope that through our collective efforts, we can reclaim what is ours and deter future acts of economic sabotage,” the president stated.
He assured Ghanaians that the findings would not be shelved, revealing the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dominic Ayine, has already been instructed to launch immediate investigations and pursue legal action against those implicated.
“To those who think they can defraud the state and escape justice, let this serve as a strong warning: Ghana is no longer a safe haven for corruption,” President Mahama asserted.
Despite President Mahama’s strong stance, the government’s commitment to impartial justice has been questioned following recent decisions by the Attorney General to drop corruption charges against some former appointees of the previous NDC administration.
Critics argue that these actions could undermine the very anti-corruption fight the president is championing.
Speaking on Joy News, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Shamima Muslim addressed these concerns, stating that the ORAL initiative aligns with public expectations for greater accountability.
She acknowledged the erosion of public trust in democratic institutions due to unchecked corruption but defended President Mahama’s track record, highlighting that he is the only president in recent history whose administration prosecuted its own officials for corruption.
“And so the president is merely reflecting the expectations of society. Citizens across the country have demanded greater accountability from those in positions of power, and rightly so. We cannot continue to pay lip service to providing dignity to our people while corruption deprives them of essential services,” she emphasized.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Government Communication and Presidential Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu has outlined the government’s approach in dealing with cases highlighted in the ORAL report.
According to him, the Attorney General will adopt a dual strategy to prosecute those found guilty of corruption while ensuring that stolen funds are refunded to the state.
Speaking on Channel One TV, Felix Kwakye Ofosu assured Ghanaians that the government remains committed to delivering justice and preventing political persecution.
As part of the next steps, Attorney General Dominic Ayine is expected to hold a press conference in the coming days to clarify the rationale behind the dropped cases and outline how the government intends to implement the ORAL Committee’s recommendations.
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Source: ATLFMNEWS
