A member of the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) Committee, Daniel Yao Domelevo, has clarified the team’s mission as a validation exercise rather than an investigative one.

The former Auditor General speaking on Joy News’ Upfront on Wednesday, January 15, explained that the committee’s primary focus is to confirm claims related to state land and property issues, ensuring accurate reporting to President John Mahama.

“What we are doing is essentially a validation mission,” he stated.

“We cannot just sit in our offices, hear claims like those from the Lomotey/Adotey family about their demolished property, and include them in our report without verifying. The presidency might question our findings if there’s no evidence on the ground.”

This clarification comes after the ORAL team visited the North Labone site where a property belonging to the Lomotey/Adotey family was illegally demolished in 2024. During the visit, a family representative recounted their ordeal, detailing the trauma of losing their home, the destruction of valuables, and their ongoing struggle for justice.

Despite a Lands Commission letter admitting to mistakenly allocating the land to a politically connected group responsible for the demolition, the family has neither been compensated nor received adequate security assurances. Instead, they continue to spend significant amounts on private security to protect the site.

Mr Domelevo stressed the importance of distinguishing validation from investigation.

“Validation is simply confirming what exists on the ground. If this were an investigation, we would call all parties, ask questions, and seek answers. For now, we are gathering data to ensure accuracy in our reports,” he said.

When asked whether the committee’s work involves accusations of wrongdoing, Domelevo was unequivocal.

“We are not accusing anyone. Before establishing any guilt, there must be an investigation. My background as an auditor reminds me that preliminary findings often change when rebutted with evidence. Our job is not to accuse but to verify.”

He also addressed confusion between the ORAL Committee’s validation efforts and the investigative actions of other bodies like national security.

“People often confuse our role with that of national security,” Domelevo noted.

“When they move in, they might take actions that go beyond validation, but we have no control over their operations.”

The ORAL team assured the Lomotey/Adotey family that their plight would be captured in a comprehensive report to President Mahama, aiming to bring attention to their loss and advocate for resolution.

Daniel Domelevo’s comments underscore the committee’s commitment to thorough validation and factual reporting, laying the groundwork for potential future investigations or corrective measures in cases involving state properties and land disputes.