Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu emphasised the vital role of the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) teams in addressing illegal land transactions and the recovery of stolen state assets.
While acknowledging the limitations of their current mandate, Kpebu emphasized the significant progress made despite the early stages of investigation.
While speaking on the KeyPoints with Alfred Ocansey on February 1, Kpebu explained that although the team’s responsibility is primarily focused on gathering evidence, their efforts have already led to tangible results.
“Even at this preparatory stage, we’ve been able to halt some major illegal land dealings,” he said.
“If we hadn’t acted when we did, a lot of illegal transactions would have gone through. This committee, in its early stages, has already been an important safeguard,” Mr Kpebu added.
He referenced several key cases, including the prevention of the demolition of 20 bungalows, which were at risk of being illegally taken over by private developers.
“These properties were worth millions of dollars, not just Ghanaian cedis,” Kpebu pointed out. The action was taken through swift coordination with national security and the police, who were alerted by the preparatory team’s reports.
This successful intervention was an example of the kind of progress that can be made even at an early stage of investigation.
Kpebu also pointed to another instance where illegal land transactions were stopped, such as the NDA land issue, where the committee intervened by reporting the situation to authorities.
The preparatory team’s collaboration with the police and national security ensured that illegal dealings involving government land, including Greek mechanization land, were swiftly halted, preventing further encroachment.
“The lands are now back under state control,” Kpebu confirmed. “This is just the beginning. There’s more to come.”
He praised the early establishment of the committee, calling it a “master stroke.”
By setting up the committee early on, the government has effectively prevented the illegal transfer of valuable assets before they could be lost forever.
While he acknowledged that the system is not perfect, Kpebu noted that it has served as a necessary check to curb corruption.
With the work of the preparatory teams continuing, Kpebu believes there will be even more successful recoveries of state assets in the future.
As citizens, he stressed, it is everyone’s responsibility to report suspicious activity and assist in maintaining the integrity of the nation’s land resources.
