Mahama Unveils Five-Member Team for 'Operation Recover All Loot' to Tackle Corruption and Reclaim State Resources
- Dec 18, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 14, 2025
Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has taken a bold step toward fulfilling one of his flagship campaign promises by announcing a five-member team to spearhead the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative.
The ORAL programme, a cornerstone of Mahama’s 120-day social contract, aims to combat systemic corruption, recover looted state resources, and enforce robust accountability measures across Ghana’s public sector.
A Bold Vision to Combat Corruption
Announced via a circular issued on December 18, ORAL is designed as a far-reaching strategy to address financial mismanagement and misappropriation. Its goals include reclaiming stolen public funds, rebuilding trust in state institutions, and creating fiscal space to drive national development.
Mahama emphasized that this initiative is not just about accountability but also about restoring dignity to Ghana’s governance system.
The Taskforce: Ghana’s Anti-Corruption Dream Team
The five-member team assembled for ORAL comprises seasoned professionals from diverse fields, chosen for their proven track records in promoting integrity, justice, and transparency.
The team includes:
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa – Chairman
Mr. Daniel Domelovo – Former Auditor-General
COP (Rtd.) Nathaniel Kofi Boakye – Retired Police Commissioner
Mr. Martin Kpebu – Private Legal Practitioner
Mr. Raymond Archer – Investigative Journalist
This diverse group combines expertise in legal analysis, financial auditing, investigative journalism, and law enforcement, providing a robust framework to ensure ORAL's success.
Roots of ORAL: A Movement Born from Public Outcry
The concept of Operation Recover All Loot first gained traction on September 4, 2024, when NDC-aligned groups organized a large-scale demonstration at the Ministry of Finance. Protesters—including civil society organizations, students, and private citizens—decried what they described as “gross financial mismanagement” during the outgoing Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo administration.
The initiative now transitions from protest to action, promising to hold individuals accountable for any misappropriation of public resources while setting a new standard for governance.
What’s Next?
The ORAL team is expected to outline a detailed plan of action in the coming weeks, including a roadmap for auditing state institutions, recovering stolen funds, and prosecuting offenders.
This announcement has sparked widespread conversations across Ghana, with many praising Mahama’s decisive approach to addressing corruption. Others, however, are watching closely to see how the initiative unfolds.
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