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Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has sharply criticized the newly established Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) committee, a body announced by President-elect John Dramani Mahama to combat alleged corruption.
Afenyo-Markin described the committee as unnecessary and lacking constitutional backing, asserting that it undermines existing state institutions tasked with addressing corruption. He aired his concerns during his final remarks as the Majority Leader of the 8th Parliament.
President-elect Mahama had promised during his campaign to form ORAL to investigate and recover public funds allegedly misappropriated during the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo administration. Following his victory, Mahama unveiled a five-member committee to lead the initiative, comprising notable figures such as former Auditor-General Daniel Domelovo, retired Commissioner of Police Nathaniel Kofi Boakye, legal practitioner Martin Kpebu, and investigative journalist Raymond Archer.
However, Afenyo-Markin dismissed the initiative as a politically motivated “wild goose chase” that could destabilize governance and instill fear. He emphasized the need to strengthen existing institutions rather than create new ones.
“I want to add my voice to the call you made, that we should have a better way of dealing with issues of alleged corruption. We should allow a due process of law to take effect. It is on this note that I condemn in all uncertain terms the establishment of a so-called committee called ORAL (Operation Recover All Loot). I hold the humble view that it is a needless committee, it has no constitutional backing, and this is only in for a personal vendetta,” Afenyo-Markin stated.
He further warned, “If we allow this committee to continue with its so-called wild goose chase, it will disturb the governance of this country. We don’t need any so-called ORAL. We have institutions of the state. However unhappy we are with their work, we must support them to do their work.
“We don’t want people to be chasing people into their houses, going into their rooms thinking that their government is in office so they should chase people on suspicion of so-called corruption.”
In response to these criticisms, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Chairman of the ORAL committee, reassured the public that the team’s operations would not overlap with the work of existing anti-corruption agencies.
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