AG to address Ghanaians on progress of ORAL
By DL News
Published
2 min read
The update follows recent revelations from the ORAL Committee, which has identified $21.19 billion in potentially recoverable funds from illicit transactions and undervalued state asset sales.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, is set to address the nation today, March 24, 2025, in Accra, detailing the progress of the government’s anti-corruption initiative, Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL). The briefing is expected to highlight ongoing investigations, legal actions, and broader efforts to strengthen transparency and accountability in public office.
The update follows recent revelations from the ORAL Committee, which has identified $21.19 billion in potentially recoverable funds from illicit transactions and undervalued state asset sales. During a committee report handover on February 10, 2025, in Accra, ORAL Chairman Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa emphasized the significance of these findings, stating that just 36 high-profile corruption cases could yield $20.49 billion if successfully prosecuted.
Among the key cases under scrutiny are the National Cathedral project, the Power Distribution Services (PDS) scandal, and the Saltpond decommissioning project. Additionally, the committee flagged instances of state land undervaluation, leading to an estimated revenue loss of $702.8 million. Ablakwa cited examples where prime lands in Cantonments, valued at $500,000 per plot, were sold for as little as 42,000 cedis.
The ORAL Committee’s work has gained global attention, with international forensic firms offering assistance in tracking offshore accounts tied to corrupt dealings. Some firms have proposed working at no upfront cost, instead requesting a share of successfully recovered assets.
Ablakwa highlighted the financial impact of these recoveries, stressing that Ghana could regain economic stability without external financial aid. "The amount we stand to recover far exceeds what we have been negotiating with the IMF, which often comes with restrictive conditions," he noted.
Established on December 18, 2024, under President John Dramani Mahama, ORAL is tasked with tracing and reclaiming misappropriated public assets. The committee, chaired by Ablakwa, includes former Auditor-General Daniel Yao Domelevo, retired Commissioner of Police Kofi Boakye, legal expert Martin Kpebu, and investigative journalist Raymond Archer.
As Dr. Ayine prepares to outline the government’s next steps, expectations are high for details on prosecution plans, asset recovery strategies, and preventive policy measures to safeguard public resources in the future.
