A private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu has asserted that members of the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) committee rendered their services at no cost to the state.
He noted that members of the committee funded expenses related to their work on their own.
“We did not receive any funds from the government. We did everything on our own. We did not receive any remuneration. Not even government water,” he said on TV3’s the KeyPoints on October 25.
Mr Kpebu explained that they were set up at a time when now President Mahama was president-elect.
“Remember we were set up on 18th December, and we submitted our report in February, no money was paid to us,” Kpebu noted in reaction to comments that members of ORAL will also be called upon at the right time to account for the cost of their sittings.
It would be recalled that on December 18, the Transition Team of President-elect John Dramani Mahama announced the formation of a preparatory team to drive his anti-corruption agenda ahead of his assumption of office.
In a statement dated December 18, 2024, and signed by spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the team will gather information from the public and other credible sources on suspected acts of corruption.
The team is tasked with laying the groundwork for what Mahama refers to as Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL)—an initiative aimed at reclaiming proceeds from corrupt practices and holding perpetrators accountable.
The preparatory team comprises the following individuals:
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa – Chairman
Mr. Daniel Domelevo – Former Auditor-General
COP (Rtd.) Nathaniel Kofi Boakye
Mr. Martin Kpebu – Private Legal Practitioner
Mr. Raymond Archer – Investigative Journalist
This multi-disciplinary team reflects Mahama’s strategy to strengthen anti-corruption efforts using a blend of legal, investigative, and public service expertise.
Mahama assembles anti-corruption team ahead of assumption of office
Background
John Mahama campaigned heavily on tackling corruption and curbing public sector waste, which he described as major obstacles to Ghana’s progress. During the campaign, he outlined ambitious reforms, including strengthening governance institutions and imposing severe consequences on those found guilty of mismanaging state resources.
Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) emerged as a core policy under Mahama’s development agenda, promising to prioritise transparency and fiscal responsibility. By setting up this preparatory team during the transition period, Mahama appears determined to hit the ground running in delivering on his promises to Ghanaians.
The inclusion of respected figures such as Daniel Domelevo, Ghana’s former Auditor-General known for his anti-corruption work, and Martin Kpebu, a renowned lawyer, signals a no-nonsense approach to dealing with corruption in Ghana, maybe.
