Former Member of Parliament (MP) for Akim Abuakwa South and legal practitioner, Atta Akyea, has reiterated that President Mahama’s Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) committee has no legal backing and should not be tolerated.

According to him, “It is very unlawful, it is populist, and we shouldn’t go down that path,” he said.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile with Samson Lardy on Saturday, January 18, he stated that the ORAL team does not serve as a platform for whistleblowing when Samson Lardy asked if that could be the issue.

“A whistleblower is typically a low-profile individual who strategically provides sensitive information to the appropriate body for them to investigate and take action,” he explained.

He further criticised the committee for conducting investigations in a public manner.

“Why don’t you gather information discreetly? Whatever they are doing, they should do it in accordance with the law and stop going around with cameras,” he said.

Earlier, the Minority in Parliament had urged former government appointees to refuse any summons from the ORAL committee to investigate alleged cases, arguing that the committee is unconstitutional.

The operation of ORAL has faced significant public criticism, particularly from the opposition party, the NPP, and various legal practitioners in the country.

According to Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the chairman of the ORAL team, the committee has received over 700 reports of corruption and related cases from whistleblowers across the country.

The team’s role is to collect allegations of corrupt activities and forward them to the Attorney General and the Auditor General for further investigation and, where applicable, prosecution.