ORAL: Press briefings promote accountability - Attorney General insists

The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, has defended his decision to conduct press briefings on Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL), an exercise rooted in investigations into the activities of former government appointees, insisting that it forms part of his duty to ensure public accountability.

Addressing journalists at a press conference in Accra on June 13, 2025, Dr Ayine said he is committed to keeping Ghanaians informed about the work his office is undertaking, particularly with regard to high-profile investigations.

He rejected claims that his public disclosures are politically motivated or aimed at tarnishing the image of former government officials.

“There is nothing absolutely wrong with the briefings. We have a duty to account to the people of this country. It is not in order to make any political party look bad. What we are doing is simply to account to the people,”he stated.

Dr Ayine cited practices in other democracies, such as the United States, where attorneys routinely brief the media on the outcomes of significant investigations.

“Even the AG of the US, brief the press when they conclude their investigations,” he noted.

The Attorney General came under criticism following his public remarks on ongoing investigations involving former officials, including former Director of the Signals Bureau, Kwabena Adu Boahene.

However, responding to questions about the National Service Secretariat scandal, Dr Ayine confirmed that a full docket has been prepared and submitted to his office.

Investigations are currently ongoing, and the Attorney General's office is also reviewing the evidence for possible prosecution.

He reaffirmed his commitment to transparency and accountability, pledging to continue the briefings to the public on key developments through the media.

MRA/VPO

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