Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Chairperson of the newly established Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) Team, has expressed disappointment over Ghana’s public finances under the Akufo-Addo administration.
Speaking on Joy News, Ablakwa lamented what he called a betrayal of trust, saying, “When President Akufo-Addo was coming to office, he said he would protect the public purse. Unfortunately, something happened along the way, and the purse rather had to be protected from him.”
Outlining the mandate of the ORAL Team, Ablakwa clarified that their role is to gather evidence of corruption and hand it over to relevant institutions like the Attorney General’s Department, EOCO, and the Office of the Special Prosecutor for action.
“We are not prosecutors or judges,” he explained, adding that the team’s work is aimed at strengthening public trust in governance and ensuring accountability.
Ablakwa emphasized that their investigations would be impartial, stating, “There will be no witch-hunting. Those who have served with integrity have nothing to fear, but those who have plundered resources must answer for their actions.”
The North Tongu MP, known for his investigative efforts, reaffirmed his commitment to tackling corruption, referencing high-profile scandals like the Agyapa Royalties deal and the Pwalugu Dam project.
“It is not patriotic to come by evidence and sit on it,” Ablakwa remarked.
He added that the ORAL Team’s mission is to restore confidence in public institutions and prevent impunity, ensuring that funds lost to corruption are accounted for and used to benefit Ghanaians.
