Work of ORAL will end with the appointment of an Attorney General - Joyce Bawah Mogtari

A Special Aide to President John Dramani Mahama, Joyce Bawah Mogtari has announced that the work of the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) will end with the appointment of an Attorney General, noting that their work form's part of the government's strategy to tackle corruption during the transition period.

She reaffirmed the National Democratic Congress government's (NDC)’s commitment to fighting corruption and strengthening anti-corruption institutions in the country.

Joyce Bawah made these remarks in an exclusive interview with Serwaa Amihere on GHOne TV, according to a report by starrfm.com.gh.

The special aide to the president stressed that ORAL is not intended to replace existing anti-corruption bodies, but to complement them by preparing evidence for the Attorney General’s Office.

She noted that once the Attorney General is appointed, ORAL will hand over its findings for further action.

“The work of ORAL will end with the appointment of the Attorney General. Its mandate is to prepare a comprehensive report as part of the transition process. The NDC’s anti-corruption plan also includes reevaluating the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

"We are examining whether to retain or reform the OSP. Mr. Mahama has emphasised the need to strengthen all governance institutions to fight corruption effectively,” she said.

She acknowledged concerns that existing institutions like the police and EOCO (Economic and Organized Crime Office) could handle ORAL’s tasks.

However, she argued that political interference and partisanship had compromised their effectiveness.

Referencing the resignation of the first Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, Joyce Bawah Mogtari pointed out the challenges of the previous administration’s anti-corruption agenda.

“Amidu himself accused the former president of being complicit in corruption, which shows how deeply entrenched the problem was,” she remarked.

She outlined the party’s strategy for transparency and accountability, emphasising the importance of a renewed focus on governance and integrity.

“ORAL’s purpose is straightforward — collect and preserve evidence, protect witnesses, and create a platform for citizens to share information.

“This is part of a broader strategy to ensure the government demonstrates its commitment to fighting corruption during the transition period," she noted.

She pointed out the need for systemic reforms, citing the misuse of public resources under previous administrations, citing projects like the National Cathedral and the PDS concession deal, claiming significant sums of money had been spent with little to show for it.

“In the last few years, we’ve seen unprecedented nepotism and corruption, over $60 million was spent on the National Cathedral with no tangible outcome. Similarly, $12 million was wasted on the PDS deal, resulting in the loss of the Millennium Compact for power distribution — funds that could have improved electricity access for Ghanaians," she noted.

She also touched on the stalled construction of the Pwalugu Dam, which she described as a missed opportunity for agricultural transformation.

“With $11.8 million gone, there’s nothing to show for it. This dam could have provided irrigation for year-round farming in the northern regions. These failures demand accountability," she noted.

The ORAL team was set up by President John Dramani Mahama and it is tasked with investigating and documenting cases of alleged corruption and recovering misappropriated state resources.

JKB/AE

Watch the latest compilation of twi news below: