The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, is set to provide a crucial update on the government’s anti-corruption drive, Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL), at a media briefing in Accra today, Monday, March 24, 2025.
The much-anticipated briefing will shed light on ongoing investigations, legal actions taken so far, and the government’s broader efforts to promote accountability and transparency in public office.
Dr. Ayine is also expected to reaffirm the government’s commitment to upholding the Rule of Law and strengthening Ghana’s legal framework.
$21.19billion in potential recoveries
The briefing scheduled for today follows revelations from the Operation Recover All Loot Committee, which has uncovered an estimated $21.19 billion in potential recoveries from looted state assets and undervalued land sales.
At the handover of the committee’s report on February 10, 2025, in Accra, ORAL Chairman Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa identified key cases that could significantly boost Ghana’s finances.
Investigations into 36 high-profile corruption cases alone could yield $20.49 billion if recoveries are successful. “If we are successful in recoveries, we can retrieve as much as 20.49 billion United States dollars,” Ablakwa stated. These cases include controversial transactions such as the National Cathedral project, the Power Distribution Services (PDS) scandal, and the Saltpond decommissioning project, among others.
The committee also flagged massive undervaluation of state lands, resulting in a $702.8 million revenue loss. Ablakwa disclosed shocking cases of prime lands being sold at extremely low prices. “Some people acquired prime Cantonments land for as low as 42,000 cedis—land that should fetch $500,000 or more per plot at fair market value,” he revealed.
According to the ORAL Committee, reclaiming and properly revaluing these lands could be a major step toward economic recovery. “If we just ask people to pay the real market value, we stand to recover this amount,” Ablakwa asserted.
International interest in asset recovery
The committee’s efforts have also attracted global interest, with international forensic firms offering to help track offshore assets linked to corrupt dealings. “We have received a number of international requests to support this initiative, particularly in forensic tracking of offshore accounts,” Ablakwa noted. Some firms have even offered their services at no upfront cost, instead requesting a small percentage of successful recoveries.
With Ghana facing financial challenges, Ablakwa underscored the importance of these recoveries. “This amount is far more than what we have been chasing the IMF for, and subjecting ourselves to all kinds of conditionalities,” he stated, stressing that Ghana could regain financial independence through effective asset recovery.
ORAL Committee’s mandate
The Operation Recover All Loot Committee was established on December 18, 2024, under President John Dramani Mahama to track and retrieve looted state assets. The committee is led by North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and includes former Auditor-General Daniel Yao Domelevo, retired Commissioner of Police Kofi Boakye, private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu, and investigative journalist Raymond Archer.
As Dr. Ayine prepares to address the nation, many will be keen to hear concrete steps on prosecution, asset recovery, and policy measures to prevent future misappropriation of state resources.
Credit: Graphic Online
