The Chairman of Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL), Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, says the initiative will remain a central feature of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Monday, January 13, he detailed the transformative role ORAL will play in ensuring accountability, recovering stolen assets, and institutionalising reforms to safeguard public resources.

Ablakwa underscored that ORAL’s framework is designed to instil confidence in whistleblowers and citizens who wish to contribute to the fight against corruption.

“The confidence that people will have with an ORAL setup is really important. You can’t downplay that,” he said.

The North Tongu MP noted that under the current whistleblower regime, individuals who come forward often face retaliation and severe consequences, which undermines trust and participation.

He clarified misconceptions about ORAL’s timelines, noting that the initiative is not a temporary measure but a phased and enduring strategy.

“There is this misconception that everything about ORAL ends when the Attorney General takes office. Not at all. If you read the NDC manifesto, ORAL is going to be a permanent feature.

"What will happen is that we will transition from this preparatory phase of gathering data to the phase where institutions of state deal with prosecutions, retrievals, surcharges, and disallowances,” he explained.

Mr Ablakwa outlined ORAL’s immediate and long-term objectives, emphasising its role in recovering stolen assets, enforcing accountability, and implementing reforms.

“We must ensure there’s as much recovery as possible. If not, all of this effort in putting the data together will have been wasted.

"The Attorney General will assess the evidence collated, determine which cases to prosecute, and refer others to appropriate bodies like EOCO or the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for further action,” he added.

The Chairman expressed confidence in President Mahama’s vision for institutional reforms, which include a legislative ban on politicians and politically exposed persons from acquiring state assets.

“The President has talked about lasting institutional reforms. He’s committed to passing a bill to ensure that politicians and politically exposed persons cannot buy state assets. This will be a major game-changer,” he said.

Mr Ablakwa also revealed plans for comprehensive probes into the appropriation of state lands and assets, to return them to their rightful owners—the Ghanaian people.

“Expect to see a lot more action in terms of actual execution to recover the loot. This is not a flash-in-the-pan initiative. ORAL will be integrated into the very fabric of governance,” he assured.

Mr Ablakwa reiterated that ORAL represents a new era of accountability under the NDC.

“This initiative is about protecting the collective good. It’s an honour to serve our country this way, and we are determined to make a lasting impact,” he stated.

The assurance from ORAL’s leadership, combined with the President’s commitment to structural reforms, signals a resolute approach to tackling corruption and restoring public trust in governance. ORAL, Mr Ablakwa affirmed, is here to stay.