By Daniel Bampoe
The National Democratic Congress government, through the Attorney-General’s office and the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative, is currently investigating 280 cases of alleged corruption and financial mismanagement involving public officials.
Launched in December 2024 under the administration of President John Mahama, ORAL was billed as a flagship anti-corruption campaign aimed at recovering stolen public funds, prosecuting offenders, and restoring public confidence in governance.
The investigations cover a wide range of alleged financial improprieties, including embezzlement, misappropriation of public resources, and other forms of corruption reported by citizens, whistleblowers, and government oversight agencies.
However, over a year since the NDC assumed office little or nothing tangible has been achieved with NDC activists lamenting about the slow pace of the ORAL cases.
But Minister of State for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, recently indicated that all 280 cases are being actively examined through forensic audits and legal scrutiny to determine whether individuals should face prosecution, restitution, or surcharging.
Despite official assurances of transparency, the initiative has sparked growing frustration among members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Grassroots supporters have expressed anger over the slow pace of prosecutions, warning that failure to secure visible results could damage the party’s credibility and electoral prospects.
In recent statements, NDC General Secretary, Fiifi Kwetey, accused party-affiliated lawyers of attempting to negotiate behind-the-scenes deals to protect alleged offenders, warning that such acts could undermine the integrity of ORAL and sabotage the government’s anti-corruption agenda.
Adding to the controversy, former Auditor-General, Daniel Domelevo, publicly questioned the substance of the ORAL data, noting that many complaints lack verified suspects or supporting evidence.
Daniel Domelevo described parts of the ORAL submissions as “garbage,” explaining that while the team received thousands of reports, the figures largely represented unverified allegations rather than proven misconduct.
His comments underscore persistent concerns about the credibility and investigatory rigor of the ORAL initiative.
The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has also joined the criticism. Senior NPP figures have labeled the Attorney-General and the ORAL committee as incompetent, arguing that the officials appointed to oversee the investigations have now taken positions within the government, creating a potential conflict of interest.
According to the opposition, the campaign appears more as a political strategy to win votes than a genuine effort to prosecute corruption.
The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, has maintained that all cases are being processed in accordance with the law, rejecting allegations of plea bargaining or backdoor deals.
He confirmed that 16 dockets are currently under detailed review and that additional evidence is requested whenever investigative gaps are identified.
Dr. Ayine emphasized that the legal process is deliberately methodical, ensuring that prosecutions are evidence-based and sustainable.
“No deal, no plea arrangement has been entered into with anybody who committed an offence under ORAL,” he stressed.
Critics cite perceived delays in high-profile cases, including the Trafigura judgment debt and extradition proceedings involving former officials such as Ken Ofori-Atta, as evidence of administrative inefficiency.
The ORAL initiative, now in its 14th month, remains under intense scrutiny.
While the Attorney-General insists that the investigations are proceeding with integrity and that no individuals are receiving preferential treatment, frustrations persist among NDC members and the general public.
The perception that the campaign may have been merged with political objectives, combined with concerns over the lack of prosecutions for former NPP officials, threatens to shape the public narrative around ORAL and could influence the political landscape ahead of upcoming elections.
