By Daniel Bampoe
The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fiifi Kwetey, has cautioned party-affiliated lawyers against engaging in behind-the-scenes deals to protect former public officials accused of corruption.
His remarks come at a critical moment when the John Mahama administration’s anti-graft campaign, Operation Recover All Loots (ORAL), is under scrutiny for what many describe as delays and half-measures.
In a strongly worded message shared on social media, Fiifi Kwetey said some lawyers aligned with the NDC were sabotaging the government’s anti-corruption drive by negotiating with or defending individuals who should face the full force of the law.
“You cannot, in one breath, be making proclamations that condemn the people on the other side while you are part of the people who want to subvert the same law in the same constitution,” Kwetey said.
He added that public pressure for accountability is growing, yet “some among us are busy trying to cut deals with people who are supposed to be prosecuted.”
Without mentioning names, he threatened that such individuals could be exposed if they failed to desist.
Background Of ORAL
Operation Recover All Loots (ORAL) was launched in December 2024 by John Mahama even before taking office as a flagship anti-corruption initiative.
The project was designed to trace, recover, and prosecute corruption-related cases, particularly those linked to officials of the immediate past administration.
The ORAL framework mandated a committee to collect and screen complaints, forwarding only credible cases to the Attorney-General’s Department for prosecution.
Within months, the initiative received more than 25,000 complaints from citizens, civil society groups, and whistleblowers.
Out of these, 2,500 were formally processed, and 280 cases were assessed to have prosecutorial merit.
Since then, 65 individuals have been investigated, leading to several arrests, bail applications, and ongoing trials.
Yet, no convictions have been secured so far—an outcome critics argue has dented public confidence in the initiative.
High-Profile Cases In Court
One of the most closely watched cases is that of Kwabena Adu Boahene, the former Director-General of the National Signals Bureau, and his wife. They are facing trial over allegations of embezzlement.
According to Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem Sai, the trial had already reached a crucial stage before it was stalled by the annual judicial vacation.
Hearings are scheduled to resume in October.
Other notable prosecutions include Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, former Chairman of Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), alongside Solomon Asamoah, the former CEO of GIIF.
Both are facing charges linked to the failed Accra Sky Train project, a controversial initiative that cost the state $2million without delivering results.
Voluntary Recovery Of Assets
A surprising twist in the ORAL process has been the number of accused persons who have opted to return assets voluntarily.
Dr. Srem Sai confirmed that several individuals implicated in corruption cases have offered to return stolen funds and properties, while others have indicated readiness to testify as state witnesses against co-accused officials.
“There’s no better way of recovering the money than voluntary recovery,” he said, arguing that the state stands to benefit more from recovering assets than from pursuing prolonged court battles.
Mounting Criticism
Despite these efforts, ORAL has faced mounting criticism.
Some argue that relying heavily on public complaints without solid evidence has slowed the initiative, while others claim powerful individuals are being shielded.
This backdrop explains Fiifi Kwetey’s recent intervention.
His comments highlight concerns within the ruling party that some NDC lawyers may be undermining the credibility of the initiative by striking deals with suspects, contrary to the spirit of accountability promised by the NDC government.
Balancing Justice And Political Loyalty
The Mahama administration is caught between two competing pressures: maintaining loyalty within the party and meeting public expectations of accountability.
Fiifi Kwetey’s remarks suggest growing unease within the NDC leadership that any perception of double standards could backfire politically.
For many Ghanaians, the success of ORAL will not be judged merely by the number of prosecutions but by the actual recovery of stolen state assets and the establishment of a legal precedent that no public official is above the law.
