ORAL is a tool for political revenge - Afenyo-Markin

Accra, Ghana - 06 Jan, 2025 - The Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has launched a scathing attack on President-elect John Dramani Mahama's newly established Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) committee.

Afenyo-Markin, who was speaking during his final remarks as Majority Leader of the 8th Parliament, described the committee as a "wild goose chase" and warned that it could be used as a tool for political revenge.

He argued that the committee's establishment undermines existing state institutions responsible for fighting corruption, such as the Auditor-General's Department and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).

“I want to add my voice to the call you made, that we should have a better way of dealing with issues of alleged corruption…we should allow a due process of law to take effect. it is on this note that I condemn in all uncertain terms the establishment of a so-called committee called ORAL (Operation Recover All Loot). I hold the humble view that it is a needless committee, it has no constitutional backing, and this is only in for a personal vendetta,'' he stated.

“If we allow this committee to continue with its so-called wild goose chase, it will disturb the governance of this country. We don’t need any so-called ORAL. We have institutions of the state. However unhappy we are with their work, we must support them to do their work.

“We don’t want people to be chasing people into their houses, going into their rooms thinking that their government is in office so they should chase people on suspicion of so-called corruption,” he added.

However, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Chairman of the ORAL committee, has reassured Ghanaians that the team will not duplicate the work of existing state anti-corruption agencies.

The ORAL committee comprises a five-member team, including former Auditor-General Daniel Domelovo, retired Commissioner of Police Nathaniel Kofi Boakye, legal practitioner Martin Kpebu, and investigative journalist Raymond Archer.

Mahama's initiative to establish the ORAL committee was first announced during his campaign, with the promise to investigate and recover alleged state resources looted during the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo administration.

Source: Lead News Online