The newly appointed Chairperson of the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) Team, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has decried the state of Ghana’s public finances under the outgoing Akufo-Addo administration.

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express with Evans Mensah on Wednesday, he revealed that the ORAL Team is determined to gather evidence on corruption cases and submit it to relevant institutions for further action.

Mr Ablakwa lamented what he described as a betrayal of trust by the outgoing administration.

“When President Akufo-Addo was coming to office, he said he would protect the public purse. He called on all of us to join him in that noble endeavour.

"Unfortunately, something happened along the way, and the purse rather had to be protected from him,” he stated.

Clarifying the mandate of the ORAL Team, Ablakwa emphasized that they are not prosecutors or judges.

“Our mandate is very clear—we are only gathering evidence. I am neither a prosecutor nor a judge. These are not matters where I will have the final say,” he explained.

According to Mr Ablakwa, the team will compile and analyse evidence of suspected corruption before handing it over to appropriate institutions, such as the Attorney General’s Department, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), or the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).

“We are not the end-all and be-all in these matters. The institutions that have the mandate to prosecute or adjudicate will take over from where we left off. Some cases will go to court, and judges will decide their outcomes,” Ablakwa said.

Ablakwa, known for his investigative work, said his new role aligns with his longstanding commitment to holding public officials accountable.

“At a point, people were calling me the ‘Interceptor General’ in this country because of the many documents I intercepted. We have incontrovertible evidence on a lot of these scandals,” he remarked.

He argued that withholding such evidence would be unpatriotic. “It is not patriotic to come by all of this evidence and sit on it.

As citizens, we are enjoined by the 1992 Constitution to be concerned about public resources and state assets. When we have evidence, we must make it available to the institutions mandated to act,” Mr Ablakwa said.

The North Tongu MP reassured the public that the ORAL Team would not engage in witch-hunting. “There will be no witch-hunting. This is about gathering evidence and ensuring it is put to good use.

"If the evidence is not strong or compelling, it will not feature in our reports. We are not judges in our own cause,” he asserted.

He further stated that the ORAL Team’s approach would be objective and fair.

“Those who have served this country with honour and integrity have nothing to fear. But those who have plundered resources, engaged in state capture, and dissipated public funds must be prepared to answer for their actions,” he cautioned.

Mr Ablakwa highlighted the broader significance of the ORAL Team’s work in restoring public trust in governance.

“For years, the system has failed to hold corrupt officials accountable. This has created an atmosphere of impunity. We are taking this step to rebuild confidence in our institutions and demonstrate that corruption will not be tolerated,” he said.

He cited examples of past corruption cases, including the Pwalugu Dam fiasco and the Agyapa Royalties deal, as areas requiring thorough investigation.

“We’ve lost millions of dollars to corruption, and these funds could have been used to improve the lives of Ghanaians. It is our duty to ensure that these cases are not swept under the rug,” he stressed.