The former director of the Ghana School of Law warns that the anti-corruption team risks targeting innocent people and fuelling fear in Ghana
The former director of the Ghana School of Law, Kwaku Ansah-Asare, has called for the immediate dissolution of President John Dramani Mahama’s Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) taskforce, branding it a “witch-hunting concept” that could threaten the country’s peace and stability.
Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show (ABS) on Wednesday (15 January), Ansah-Asare did not mince words as he questioned the intentions and fairness of the anti-corruption team.
He argued that ORAL, launched to recover allegedly stolen state assets, risks unfairly targeting individuals and creating an atmosphere of fear.
“I think that ORAL must be scrapped. It’s a complete waste of time, complete waste of resources. It’s a witch-hunting concept,” he said emphatically.
He warned that once such an initiative gains momentum, it can spiral out of control, ensnaring innocent individuals and deepening mistrust among the populace.
“Nobody can [stop] it once it begins to devour innocent people; we should ensure that it is better for the general citizenry to live in peace and stability and not in fear. Tongues have started wagging that this person did that,” Ansah-Asare added.
The legal expert also criticised what he described as selective justice, alleging that the taskforce appears to be disproportionately targeting former ministers of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
“How many NDC (National Democratic Congress) former ministers, are you aware, have been invited? So far it’s just been NPP. Is it only NPP ministers who are thieves?” he questioned.
“Don’t we have some thieves amongst the former ministers of the NDC or even in the current NDC machinery? So let’s stop this witch-hunting.”
Ansah-Asare’s remarks add to the growing debate surrounding ORAL’s activities, with critics accusing the taskforce of being a politically motivated tool to silence opponents, while supporters argue it is a necessary step to reclaim state assets and fight corruption
