The Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has revealed that assets worth GHS1.5 billion have been frozen as investigations continue under the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative.

He explained that although substantial progress has been made, certain funds cannot be fully retrieved until individuals implicated in the investigations are prosecuted and convicted in court.

Mr Kwakye Ofosu also rejected claims that the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) had recovered GHS600 million specifically through ORAL.

He clarified that the figure refers to general recoveries of misappropriated public funds and not amounts directly secured under the ORAL programme.

The Minister made these remarks during parliamentary proceedings on the opening day of debate on the State of the Nation Address, a session marked by intense exchanges between the Minority and Majority caucuses.

Members of the Minority criticised the government’s management of the cocoa sector and expressed concern over what they described as worsening security challenges nationwide.

The Ranking Member on the Defence and Interior Committee, John Ntim Fordjour, questioned the government’s response to emerging security threats.

Similarly, Akwasi Gyamfi Onyina-Acheampong, Member of Parliament for Kwabre East on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), raised issues regarding economic performance and sectoral outcomes.

On the Majority side, the Chairman of the Finance Committee, Isaac Adongo, defended the administration’s fiscal policies, arguing that ongoing reforms would stabilise the economy and rebuild public confidence.

Kofi Benteh Afful, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Sefwi Wiawso, commended the government’s efforts to combat corruption and enhance accountability within public institutions.