The Attorney General-designate, Dr Dominic Ayine, has defended the legality of the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative.
He described it as a constitutionally grounded effort to promote accountability in public office.
Speaking in response to concerns raised about the legitimacy of the initiative during his appearance at Parliament's Appointments Committee on Monday, January 13, Dr Ayine clarified its legal basis and role within the framework of the country’s Constitution.
“ORAL is constitutional. ORAL is legal. In fact, the fact that it is a non-legal body doesn't mean that it is illegal. There is a distinction between non-legality and illegality," he stated.
Dr Ayine explained that ORAL is not established under the Criminal and Other Offenses Procedure Act (Act 30), which only outlines procedures for criminal trials and the handling of evidence in such cases.
Dr. Ayine explained that ORAL aligns with the Constitution’s preamble, which underscores the value of accountability as a fundamental principle of governance.
According to him, ORAL’s primary goal is to recover resources unlawfully acquired by politically exposed individuals or public officials who have misused their positions for personal gain.
“The Constitution commits us to accountability, and ORAL seeks to exact that accountability from those who have used or misused public office to loot public resources, whether in the form of property, money, or other intangible resources,” he said.
Addressing scepticism about the initiative, Dr Ayine clarified that being a non-legal body does not render ORAL illegal.
Latest Stories
-
Trump Trying To Force World’s Biggest News Org To Bend To His Will
59 minutes -
Hannah Acquah to spotlight local (African) investors at IFF Kigali 2025
1 hour -
Bawumia highlights Ghana’s digital milestones at Harvard University
1 hour -
Fourth Industrial revolution: A necessity for Africa’s survival and prosperity in the 21st century – Bawumia
2 hours -
Re- Imposition of Curfew on Walewale and its Environs in the North East Region
3 hours -
Kosmos Energy hands over newly built, equipped clinic to Senya SHS
3 hours -
Health Minister asks ‘rude and unprofessional’ nurses to shape up or ship out
4 hours -
Re-tool Technical Colleges of Education to promote technical and vocation education – AKATSICO Principal
4 hours -
Fisheries minister installed as a queen at CK Kope for swift reforms benefiting fisherfolk
4 hours -
World number one Sinner banned for three months
8 hours -
Communications Ministry restructures workforce to align with governance reset
12 hours -
Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf elected AU Commission chair
13 hours -
Barker-Vormawor, Ama Governor, shouldn’t have been prosecuted – John Darko
13 hours -
Bellingham sent off as Real Madrid held by Osasuna
14 hours -
Ten-man Ipswich claim battling point at Aston Villa
15 hours