Human rights activist, Oliver Barker-Vormawor has expressed concern about the public and highly visual nature of the Operation Recover All Loots (ORAL) initiative.

He cautioned that such an approach risks undermining its credibility.

In an interview on JoyNews' The Law, he pointed out the importance of discretion in its operations to ensure public trust and support.

“I am a bit dismayed about the cameras following people around. It screams gimmick, and I’m worried about that, to be fair,” Barker-Vormawor said on Sunday, January 19.

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The human rights activist argued that ORAL should avoid sensationalism and instead focus on working discreetly to build credibility and garner broader public support. He highlighted the importance of verifying reports of misappropriated assets through thorough screening processes rather than public spectacles.

“When a complaint has been made to any individual acting on behalf of the President, I think there has to be a level of sorting out and screening. If they want to verify claims, like reports of public land being taken over by individuals, they can send someone to confirm it or move together as a committee. That is fair enough,” he said.

Additionally, he noted the importance of securing the backing of credible institutions and civil society organizations to lend legitimacy to ORAL while urging the initiative’s handlers to focus on building partnerships with these groups to ensure transparency and accountability.

“We ought to be mindful of the signaling. Public support for this initiative must come from established institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs), the media, and the broader population. If this turns into a gimmick, we will lose the credibility needed to make the process work,” he warned.

While Barker-Vormawor acknowledged the necessity of verifying claims and screening reports, he reiterated that such processes should be handled professionally and without unnecessary public spectacle.