Minister of Government Communications Felix Kwakye Ofosu has said that the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) is working.
He makes the point that over one hundred former government appointees have been investigated under ORAL.
Speaking on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, February 28, he said, “over 100 appointees being investigated…the people affected by ORAL are ones claiming ORAL is not working.”
He added, “When we promised ORAL, we didn’t talk about extrajudicial means; we must go through due process.”
For his part, Walewale Member of Parliament Dr Tiah Abdul-Kabiru Mahama said that “ORAL promised to retrieve 21 billion dollars, anything short of that is failure.”
They were contributing to a discussion regarding the State of the Nation Address delivered by President John Dramani Mahama on Friday, February 27.
In the address, President Mahama said “Mr Speaker, this remains a defining priority of my government and represents a central pillar of our commitment to good governance, accountability, and the prudent management of public resources. We have made progress through strengthened collaboration among law enforcement agencies, financial intelligence institutions, and prosecutors. These efforts have led to the initiation of criminal proceedings and asset forfeiture proceedings against some individuals and entities implicated in financial crimes against the State. But yes, I agree with the sentiments of Ghanaians that we must press harder on the accelerator.
“As of December 2025, EOCO had recovered more than GHS 600 million. The Office has investigated 462 cases, with 15 currently under prosecution, and dismantled transnational car-jacking syndicates, recovering 29 luxury vehicles.”
He added “Mr Speaker, the Government remains resolute that corruption will not be tolerated, regardless of status or political affiliation. The Attorney General’s Office will continue to use both criminal prosecution and non-conviction-based asset recovery mechanisms to ensure that stolen public resources are returned for national development. I understand that a large majority of Ghanaians are impatient to see those who abused their trust in office held to account.
“There were periods when, under military regimes and unconstitutional governments, extrajudicial means could be used to exact retribution against persons perceived as corrupt or who had abused the public trust. This may have appeared as swift justice, but many regrettable excesses were recorded.
“In 1992, we overwhelmingly adopted the 1992 constitution to accept governance by the rule of law. On 7th January 2025, I swore before the people of Ghana to uphold the 1992 Constitution. I may be as impatient as everyone else to see justice done, but painstaking investigations must be conducted, dockets must be prepared, charges must be filed, and the accused must have their day in court, including appealing even the smallest points of law to higher courts. This process is necessary to protect us all against abuse or ill-treatment of citizens and to ensure that only those guilty of offences against the state are punished.
“As President Mills of blessed memory said, ‘The wheels of Justice grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly fine.’ Let me reassert my determination to uphold the accountability of public office holders to the people of Ghana. We have laid the Public Officers Code of Conduct Bill before Parliament. This bill codifies the conduct of public officers and makes breaches thereof punishable. I wish, at this juncture, to thank the Chief Justice for establishing specialised High Courts to address breaches identified in the Auditor General’s report.
“The constitution review process was conducted in a transparent, consultative, and participatory manner, drawing on input from constitutional experts, civil society organisations, traditional authorities, political parties, and the public. The review committee has submitted its comprehensive report, containing detailed proposals to amend the Constitution to address identified weaknesses and make it more welfare-enhancing. The Attorney General’s Office is working closely with relevant stakeholders to translate the recommendations into implementable legal and constitutional proposals, which will be presented to Parliament in accordance with constitutional procedures.”
