ORAL $20.1 Billion 'Loot': I will be disappointed if President Mahama does nothing - Domelevo.
Former Auditor-General Daniel Yao Domelevo has expressed his concerns and expectations regarding the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) report, which was presented to President John Dramani Mahama on Monday, February 10, 2025. Domelevo, a member of the ORAL preparatory team, stated that he would be extremely disappointed if the president fails to act on the report. He emphasized the importance of conducting proper investigations into the instances of corruption detailed in the report to recover stolen state funds.
Speaking to the media after the report's presentation, Domelevo expressed confidence that President Mahama would take action, citing the president's promise to do so. However, he warned that if no action is taken, he would be deeply disappointed in both the president and the Attorney General. He stressed that the team's efforts should not go to waste and that those found culpable must be held accountable.
Domelevo also shared his perspective on the focus of the recovery process. He argued that the state should prioritize recovering stolen funds rather than imprisoning those responsible. He pointed out that imprisonment comes at a cost to the state and that individuals who have stolen from the state often return to enjoy their ill-gotten gains after serving their sentences. Instead, he suggested imposing surcharges on recovered funds to ensure that the state benefits more than the amount originally stolen.
He elaborated, "If we think we have won a case against someone who took 10 million, we should aim to recover 15 or 20 million from them. Custodial sentences don't help because the person will eventually return to enjoy their booty. Additionally, keeping them in custody costs public funds, and our prisons are already overcrowded. We should focus on recovering funds and let those with smaller offenses go."
Domelevo also expressed satisfaction with President Mahama's commitment to preventing future corruption. He was particularly pleased with the president's mention of OPAL (Operation Prevent All Loot), which aims to stop further leakages of state funds. Domelevo highlighted the importance of not only addressing past corruption but also preventing future occurrences.
About the ORAL Report:
The ORAL preparatory team, led by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, presented its findings to President Mahama. Ablakwa, who is also the Member of Parliament for North Tongu and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, revealed that the team received 2,417 public complaints about corruption. Out of these, 36 cases were thoroughly investigated and revealed significant embezzlement of state funds.
Ablakwa disclosed that the government could potentially recover up to $20.49 billion from these 36 cases alone. He mentioned specific cases, such as the National Cathedral, PDS, SML, and GNPC Salt Point decommissioning, but refrained from going into greater detail during the public presentation.
Additionally, Ablakwa highlighted that over $700 million could be recovered from state lands unlawfully captured by politicians. Combining the 36 cases and the land recovery efforts, the country could retrieve over $21 billion, significantly more than the $3 billion received from the IMF bailout program.
In conclusion, Domelevo and the ORAL team are hopeful that the government will take decisive action to recover stolen funds and implement measures to prevent future corruption, ensuring that the state's resources are protected and utilized for the benefit of the people.
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