Former Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, has urged Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, to dissociate himself from the ‘divisive’ Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) team.
According to Ampratwum-Sarpong, Ablakwa’s involvement with the ORAL team contradicts his new role as Foreign Affairs Minister, both domestically and internationally.
“I advise a complete disengagement from the current ORAL exercise, as it conflicts with your new political mandate as Ghana’s chief diplomatic representative, serving all citizens at home and abroad,” Ampratwum-Sarpong stated in an open letter to the MP for North Tongu.
Following his victory in the December 7, 2024, elections, President John Dramani Mahama established the ORAL initiative even before assuming office, aiming to tackle corruption. Chaired by Ablakwa, the ORAL team initially received public praise but also faced criticism from some political analysts and opposition figures.
The minority in Parliament opposed the initiative, advising their members not to cooperate with the team. However, President Mahama defended his decision, clarifying that ORAL was designed to collect corruption-related complaints and forward them to appropriate government institutions for investigation. He emphasized that the team was neither a witch-hunting committee nor had investigative powers.
Reports indicate that the ORAL team received 1,493 complaints through a toll-free number and 924 via email, totaling 2,417 corruption-related reports.
Despite these efforts, Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong has expressed strong reservations about Ablakwa’s continued involvement in ORAL. In his letter, he warned that ORAL’s activities could entangle the minister in divisive political disputes. He also cautioned that Ablakwa’s affiliation with the team might attract negative publicity and damage Ghana’s international reputation.
He argued that no Foreign Minister globally engages in the simultaneous prosecution of political adversaries, urging Ablakwa to prioritize his diplomatic responsibilities over his role in ORAL.
Source:Oyerepafmonline.com
