Ghana’s Attorney General and Justice Minister-Designate, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has strongly defended the constitutionality of the government’s “Operation Recover All Loot” (ORAL) team, calling it an essential tool for ensuring accountability and recovering stolen state resources.

During his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on January 13, 2025, Ayine dismissed concerns about the legal basis of ORAL, a team established in December 2024 and chaired by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. The team’s mandate focuses on recovering misappropriated funds, property, and other resources from politically exposed individuals.

Ayine acknowledged that ORAL is not a traditional legal body but argued that its operations are in line with Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, particularly the principle of accountability outlined in its preamble. He explained that ORAL was created to hold accountable those who misuse public office to illegally enrich themselves.

“The team is tasked with recovering stolen property, money, and other resources for the benefit of the state,” Ayine said. “And so, ORAL is constitutional.”

The Minister-Designate also clarified that the non-legal structure of the team does not imply that it is illegal. “Being a non-legal body does not make it illegal,” he explained, stressing that the team operates within a framework that respects the rule of law and individuals’ rights under investigation.

Source:TheDotNews