The latest Corruption Perception Index (CPI) released by Transparency International (TI) suggests Ghana’s score remains low, showing a decline from previous years in spite of ongoing efforts to combat corruption.
Over the past decade Ghana has seen a consistent decline in its CPI score, dropping five points since 2015.
In a bid to wean the country of corruption and rampant corruption-related offences, President Mahama instituted the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) Committee to investigate immediate past incidences of corruption and submit a report to him for action.
Well, on Monday, February 10 this year, the ORAL team presented its report to the president containing 2,417 complaints of suspected corruption. Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa, Committee Chairman, stated that Ghanaians are deeply concerned about corruption and eagerly anticipating the president’s actions to address this issue.
Around US$21.19billion is expected to be retrieved by the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) team from some 36 cases – and the real value for some lands looted by some members of the erstwhile government.
According to Mr. Ablakwa, a detailed review of 36 cases by the Committee indicates that at least US$20.49billion can be successfully retrieved. “We can raise potentially US$21.19billion; and that is far more than what we have been chasing the IMF for and subjecting ourselves to all kinds of conditionalities,” he added.
The president commended the team for their work, especially given that they had requested no remuneration. “Every pesewa recovered from the operation will be reinvested in national development,” emphasising that Ghana is no longer a ground for corruption.
Consequently, he immediately handed over the report to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice – instructing him to begin probing the cases for further action where necessary.
However, the immediate-past former Deputy Attorney General, Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, is of the conviction that there are state institutions for that purpose. Mr. Tuah Yeboah has dismissed the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) Committee’s findings as mere rumors that lack legal basis for prosecution.
He argues that the complaints do not constitute concrete evidence for legal action. Meanwhile, former Auditor-General and member of the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) Committee, Daniel Domelevo, dismissed the remarks – adding that any individual who feels wrongly accused can seek redress through the courts.
ORAL forms part of government’s broader initiative to combat corruption and recover misappropriated/stolen public funds.
