ORAL is the most 'useless' thing I have ever heard – Kofi Tonto

Aide to former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Kofi Tonto, has criticised the Mahama administration’s handling of the economy and its anti-corruption drive, describing the much-touted Operation Recover All Loots (ORAL) initiative as “useless” and accusing the government of failing to support public sector workers.

Speaking on Good Afternoon Ghana with host Bright Amaning on Metro TV on Monday, March 2, Kofi Tonto dismissed claims that the previous New Patriotic Party administration left behind a “junk economy”.

“They claim that we left a junk economy. We don’t claim that, but we were able to pay teachers. We were able to pay nurses,” he said.

According to him, despite economic challenges, the former government ensured workers were protected, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We were able to support government workers during COVID when they were not working. We paid them in full. Frontline workers, we gave them 50 per cent in addition to their salaries and made it tax-free,” he stated.

Tonto contrasted this with what he described as worsening conditions under President John Dramani Mahama’s administration.

“With your so-called proper economy, you can’t pay teachers. You can’t pay nurses. Electricity, 27 per cent increment. Water, 20 per cent. Sustainability tax, you’ve increased it to 3 per cent,” he said.

He added that the government had also extended the sunset clause and imposed new charges on insurance.

“Non-life insurance, you’ve added 21 per cent. This is your so-called good economy.”

Kofi Tonto was particularly critical of the Operation Recover All Loots (ORAL) initiative, describing it as “the most useless thing I have ever heard”.

Referring to comments by Attorney General Dominic Ayine, he alleged that figures released under ORAL were based on guesswork.

“He said Ablakwa did off-the-cuff or back-of-the-envelope calculations. What it means is that he took a sheet of paper. ‘Oh, Kofi has stolen five cedis. Kwame has stolen 10. Yaw has stolen 15.’ Five plus 10 plus 15 equals this amount. Is that how you fight corruption?” he asked.

Tonto questioned why investigations were not conducted before figures were made public.

“Mr President, you didn’t know you needed an investigation before you allowed Okudzeto Ablakwa to recklessly put out a figure,” he said.

He cited the reported plan to retrieve $240 million from the Bank of Ghana as an example of what he called illogical thinking.

“A government has built an institution at the cost of $240 million and you claim that you are going to retrieve all of that $240 million. Is that sensible?” he asked.

Kofi Tonto also took aim at government officials over their promises to tackle illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

Without mentioning names directly, he referred to statements made by Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George, saying officials had been overly confident.

He argued that the practical challenges of treating polluted rivers were being ignored.

“Today, you need 200,000 per kilometre to put some water or some chemical in flowing water. You are going to put chemicals in flowing water. You guys have to be serious,” he said.

According to him, treating a single river stretch could cost millions of cedis.

“You need 200,000 for 173 kilometres for just one river,” Tonto added.