ORAL Team Crucial for Accountability and Resource Recovery – Ayine
Dr. Dominic Ayine defends constitutionality of initiative targeting misuse of public resources
- ORAL targets politically exposed individuals who misuse office for personal gain
- Dr. Ayine asserts that ORAL aligns with the accountability principle of the 1992 Constitution
- The non-legal status of ORAL does not undermine its legality
Dr. Dominic Ayine, Attorney General and Justice Minister-Designate, has firmly defended the government’s “Operation Recover All Loot” (ORAL) team as a key initiative for promoting accountability and reclaiming misappropriated state resources.
Speaking during his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee on January 13, 2025, Dr. Ayine addressed concerns about the team’s constitutionality. Established on December 18, 2024, and chaired by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the ORAL team targets politically exposed individuals accused of abusing public office for personal gain.
Dr. Ayine emphasized that while ORAL is not a traditional legal entity, it aligns with the values enshrined in Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, particularly the principle of accountability highlighted in its preamble. He argued that the team operates within the rule of law and respects individual rights, asserting that its mandate to recover stolen assets is both necessary and lawful.
“The fact that it is a non-legal body doesn’t mean it is illegal,” Dr. Ayine clarified, reiterating that ORAL is designed to recover public funds, properties, and intangible resources to benefit the state.
