President John Dramani Mahama has sent a strong warning to those who engage in corruption emphasizing that impunity would no longer be tolerated after the ORAL report was presented to him.
According to him, those who think they can defraud the state and escape are living a pipe dream because Ghana is no longer a haven for corruption.
The ORAL team presented its report to the President at the Presidency on Monday, February 10, 2025, during which the President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to integrity, accountability, and the rule of law.
“To those who stand for these values, I assure you that this government remains your steadfast partner in building a nation where honesty and hard work are rewarded,” he added.
Commending the ORAL Committee, President Mahama described its work as a significant milestone in Ghana’s fight against corruption. He urged the media, civil society organizations, and public officials to play their respective roles in ensuring transparency and accountability.
The President directed the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice to immediately investigate the findings of the ORAL report and prosecute anyone found culpable of corruption and related offences.
“The era of using the state as a personal cash cow is over. If all stakeholders play their part, we will build a just, transparent, and prosperous Ghana for generations to come,” he emphasized.
Ghana’s resources, he said, belong to its people and assured them that his administration would use these resources judiciously. He condemned the diversion of public funds for personal gain, noting that such actions undermine development, erode public trust, and deepen inequality.
The President explained that the establishment of the ORAL Committee was necessary to ensure that what had been wrongfully taken from the state is restored to its rightful owners—the Ghanaian people.
He pledged to carefully study the committee’s recommendations and pursue legal action where necessary, stating, “Every pesewa recovered will be reinvested in national development, and mechanisms will be strengthened to prevent future losses.”
The chairman of the ORAL Committee and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, during the presentation, revealed that the team received a total of 2,417 complaints through various communication channels. Of these, 230 cases were analyzed, forming the basis of the report.
The North Tongu lawmaker noted that ORAL has enhanced transparency and accountability while increasing public awareness about the need to safeguard state assets.
“Thanks to ORAL, we have saved 50 bungalows that were on the verge of being demolished,” he disclosed.
He revealed that 36 cases had been thoroughly reviewed, and if successful recoveries were made, the state could retrieve as much as US$20.49 billion, with an estimated US$702.8 million to be recovered from land grabs.
Accra Times