Former Auditor General Daniel Yao Domelevo has addressed criticisms regarding the legality of the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) Committee.
The anti-graft crusader urged detractors to seek legal redress if they believe the committee’s activities are unlawful.
Speaking on Accra-based Joy News’ Upfront on Wednesday, January 15, Domelevo stated, “The courts are not closed. They are still there. So, if anyone thinks we are unlawful, they should go to court.”
The ORAL Committee, established to identify and recover state assets allegedly misappropriated by members of the previous administration, has faced significant opposition.
The Minority in Parliament has labeled the committee’s operations as unconstitutional, asserting that they undermine established institutions like the Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID), the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), and the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
Suame Member of Parliament John Darko remarked, “No serious country will entertain anything such as this.”
In response to these allegations, Domelevo emphasized that the committee operates within legal boundaries by collecting information voluntarily submitted by the public.
He clarified, “We are not even inviting anybody… The publication went out from the office of the then president-elect, saying that if you have information, bring it to us via the provided hotlines, website, or email.”
Domelevo also highlighted a perceived inconsistency in reactions to similar initiatives in the past, referencing a 2017 announcement by then Senior Minister Yaw Osafo Marfo about engaging foreign firms for data collection and investigations, which was met with approval.
He stated, “In September 2017, the senior minister Yaw Osafo Marfo announced that foreign firms had been engaged to collect data, investigate, and even help with prosecution. Back then, it was fine. But now, a simple team collecting data is a problem. That is the hypocrisy we have in this country.”
Reiterating the committee’s commitment to lawful operations, Domelevo said, “We collect data and hand it over to the president. The president may then decide to refer it to the appropriate body—be it EOCO, the police, or the Office of the Special Prosecutor. That’s all we do.”