The establishment of the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) team has been hailed as a positive step in Ghana's fight against corruption. Professor Stephen Adei, a former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), has expressed his support for the initiative, despite reservations about its composition.
Adei believes that the inclusion of known members and sympathizers of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) may undermine the team's credibility and acceptance. He suggests that the addition of non-partisan individuals, such as Emile Short, would lend more credibility to the initiative.
The ORAL team's primary function is to gather evidence of corruption and forward it to the appropriate authorities. Chair Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has clarified that the team's work will conclude once President John Dramani Mahama appoints an Attorney-General (A-G), who will then take over the investigation and prosecution of corruption cases.
However, not everyone is convinced of the team's effectiveness. Old Tafo MP Vincent Ekow Assafuah has accused the ORAL team of making baseless allegations of corruption and politicizing the fight against corruption. The Executive Director of the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), Mary Addah, has also described the ORAL team as a populist initiative, suggesting that strengthening state institutions like the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) or the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) would be a more effective approach.
President-elect John Mahama has defended the ORAL team, stating that its purpose is to collect evidence of corruption and pass it on to state institutions for action. He emphasized that the team is not mandated to investigate anyone and has no budget associated with it.
As Ghana continues to grapple with corruption, the ORAL team's effectiveness remains to be seen. While some have hailed it as a positive step, others have raised concerns about its composition and approach. One thing is certain, however: the fight against corruption requires a multifaceted approach that involves both state institutions and civil society organizations.
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