President-elect John Dramani Mahama has refuted claims that the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) committee is a political tool for witch-hunting. His comments come in response to concerns that the committee’s activities may unfairly target individuals, particularly members of the outgoing administration.
Speaking during a meeting with the Canadian High Commission in Ghana on Thursday, Mr. Mahama clarified that the ORAL committee’s mandate is strictly to gather evidence of alleged corruption and channel it to the appropriate government institutions once his administration takes office.
Focus on Evidence Collection
“I think people are misunderstanding it,” Mr. Mahama stated. “We’re receiving a lot of information about corruption scandals and misconduct. ORAL is not tasked with investigating individuals but serves as a focal point for collecting evidence that can be handed over to government agencies responsible for such investigations.”
He humorously added, “This is not a witch-hunting committee. We have no brooms to fly at night.”
No Financial Burden
Mr. Mahama emphasized that the ORAL committee operates on a pro bono basis, with no budgetary allocation, ensuring it imposes no financial burden on the state.
“This initiative is about accountability and fairness. It is not designed to target individuals but to uphold transparency and integrity in governance,” he explained.
Call for Collaboration
The President-elect urged political parties and civil society organizations to work together to promote transparency and accountability. He reiterated that the ORAL committee is an effort to combat corruption rather than an instrument of political persecution.
This clarification aims to address public skepticism and foster trust in the administration’s commitment to fighting corruption in a fair and impartial manner.
