The Minority in Parliament has condemned Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) actions, calling them unlawful and endangering the country’s legal system.
At a news conference on Wednesday, January 15, Suame MP John Darko criticized ORAL, claiming that no serious country would consider it.
He stated that the establishment of ORAL contradicts the Constitution and undermines the authority of constitutionally created organizations such as the Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), and the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
“It is concerning, and we want the people of Ghana to know that no serious country will entertain anything such as this,” He said.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) government launched ORAL to identify, investigate, and recover state assets thought to have been stolen by former Akufo-Addo administration officials. The allegations include the theft of land, money, vehicles, and questionable contracts.
The committee has received numerous suspicious cases, which are now being investigated. The findings will be referred to the Attorney General to consider legal action and prosecution.
Mr Darko chastised the Attorney General (AG) nominee, Dr Dominic Ayine, for supporting ORAL, which the Minority argues violates constitutional bounds.
“The AG nominee justified the illegitimate existence and organization of those who harass former government officials. We believe that the establishment of ORAL violates and contradicts our Constitution, and one would have expected a law professor like Dr. Ayine to denounce it, but instead he supported it.’
The Minority also asked former government officials to avoid any interactions with ORAL, labeling their actions as disruptive and illegal.
“If you are a former government official and receive an invitation from ORAL, our advise is straightforward: boycott it. We refuse to accept this institution since constitutionally required bodies already exist to investigate any alleged wrongdoings,” he stated.
Mr Darko also accused the ORAL team of overstepping its authority by breaking into private residences, taking vehicles, and stealing land from individuals who had genuine ownership.
The Minority urged the administration to disband ORAL and reaffirm the mandate of constitutionally created institutions to maintain law and order.
