The Executive Director of Global InfoAnalytics, Mussa Dankwa, has suggested that the report from Operation Recover All Loots (ORAL) should have been submitted to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) instead of the Attorney-General. He believes this move would help depoliticize investigations and prosecutions related to corruption cases.
In a Facebook post, Dankwa cautioned that cases under ORAL will likely extend beyond the four-year term of President John Dramani Mahama. With the uncertainty of the 2028 elections, he warned that if the National Democratic Congress (NDC) fails to retain power, there is a risk that a future government could discontinue prosecutions by filing a nolle prosequi in 2029.
“To ensure these cases are pursued irrespective of which party is in power, the Attorney-General should strengthen and equip the OSP to handle the potential political ORAL cases,” he argued.
ORAL Identifies Billions in Potential Recoveries
The ORAL Committee has reported identifying $21.19 billion in potential recoveries from looted state assets and undervalued land sales. Presenting the report to President Mahama in Accra on Monday, February 10, ORAL Chairman Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa emphasized that successfully recovering these funds could eliminate the need for financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“If we manage to recover these funds, we could retrieve as much as $20.49 billion,” Ablakwa stated. “These cases involve significant corruption scandals, including the National Cathedral project, Power Distribution Services (PDS), and the Saltpond decommissioning project.”
Ensuring Prosecutions Beyond Political Transitions
Dankwa, though not a lawyer, expressed concerns based on past legal trends in Ghana. He pointed out that previous administrations have discontinued cases, often perceived as politically motivated. While President Mahama’s government has dropped several court cases deemed witch-hunting, he noted that President Akufo-Addo’s administration also saw nolle prosequi filings and instances where cases never reached trial.
“The real issue is that successive governments have failed to separate the Attorney-General’s role from state prosecution. Until the constitution is amended to address this, the most effective way to ensure continuity in prosecutions is to empower the OSP,” Dankwa said.
He further argued that assigning ORAL cases to the OSP would prevent accusations of political bias since the OSP operates independently of the Attorney-General’s office. Additionally, it would ensure that prosecutions continue even in the event of a change in government.
“This is the best way forward if we want to hold people accountable and recover stolen assets without political interference,” he concluded.
SOURCE: http://dew360.net
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