The Oral Committee: A Sham Disguised As An Anti-Corruption Crusade

"At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice, he is the worst." — Aristotle

The fight against corruption in Ghana has always been marred by selective justice, political deception, and a blatant disregard for the rule of law. Under the John Dramani Mahama regime, we are now witnessing the birth of an illegal entity—the Operations Recover All Loot (ORAL) Committee—which, rather than strengthening the country's anti-corruption framework, has become a tool for political whitewashing. Established outside the ambit of legal anti-corruption institutions, ORAL defies the Whistleblower Act 2006, Act 29 (Criminal Offences Act 30), the Ghana Police Act, EOCO, OSP, and other existing laws that are constitutionally mandated to fight corruption. How, then, can a government that disregards the law claim to be upholding justice?

A president who protects his own!
Barely a month into the establishment of ORAL, President Mahama has already demonstrated where his true loyalties lie. Instead of allowing the law to take its course, he has cleared former Ministers of Works and Housing—Alhaji Collins Dauda and Kweku Agyemang Mensah—of corruption charges in the $200 million Saglemi Housing scandal. This scandal, one of the most glaring cases of misappropriation of public funds, was expected to be dealt with by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO). Yet, rather than allowing these legally established bodies to function, the President unilaterally shut the door on accountability.

The same pattern is evident in the ambulance procurement case, where Finance Minister Ato Forson and others have been accused of causing financial loss to the state. Instead of ensuring due legal process, the administration has conveniently dropped charges against him. If corruption cases are dismissed at the whim of the executive, should the Ghanaian people still believe in the so-called anti-corruption fight?

A selective justice: the protection of pro-ndc groups

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “There is a higher court than courts of justice, and that is the court of conscience.” But in Ghana today, the conscience of those in power seems to have been sold for political expediency. A so-called activist group, Democracy Hub, led by Oliver Barker-Vormawor and Ama Governor, has been absolved of all criminal charges despite violating the Public Order Act and engaging in demonstrations that led to the destruction of public property. The government, instead of ensuring equal application of the law, continues to shield its allies while targeting its opponents.

If these individuals had belonged to an opposing political faction, the state machinery would have come down heavily on them. This selective justice exposes the hypocrisy of the current administration’s anti-corruption rhetoric.

do we still believe in our anti-corruption institutions?

The existence of EOCO, OSP, the Ghana Police Service, CHRAJ, and the Attorney General’s Office is meant to guarantee that corruption cases are handled professionally, transparently, and without political interference. However, their powers have been usurped by an illegal, government-backed entity that lacks constitutional or parliamentary approval. Is ORAL a vote of no confidence in the nation’s anti-corruption institutions, or is it a deliberate deception to mislead Ghanaians?

If President Mahama truly believed in fighting corruption, why establish a shadowy, law-defying committee instead of empowering the legal anti-corruption bodies? The answer is simple: ORAL was created not to fight corruption, but to shield government officials and political allies from accountability.

Hon. ablalwa: the tainted leader of oral
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." — Martin Luther King Jr.

The appointment of Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa as the chairman of ORAL is a paradox that cannot go unnoticed. Here is a man who has evaded a personality audit despite mounting questions about his unexplained wealth. Investigations suggest that he owns a multimillion-dollar property at Airport Hills, one of the most expensive residential areas in Ghana, despite earning a modest salary of GHS 15,000 per month. To conceal ownership, he has allegedly registered the property in a relative’s name.

If the government was truly committed to accountability, should the man leading the so-called anti-corruption fight not be subjected to scrutiny? Should the Ghanaian people trust a man who has questions to answer about his own financial dealings?

ORAL: a fraudulent anti-corruption agency!
The truth is clear: ORAL is an illegal entity, not backed by law, and designed to deceive the public. Instead of ensuring justice, it is functioning as a political shield for government appointees. If a government is genuinely interested in fighting corruption, it should:

1. Strengthen legally established anti-corruption institutions such as EOCO, OSP, CHRAJ, and the Ghana Police Service.

2. Allow the law to take its course without executive interference.

3. Ensure that corruption cases are investigated thoroughly, regardless of political affiliations.

4. Subject all public officials, including Hon. Ablakwa, to audits and investigations if allegations of unexplained wealth arise.

The next wave of corruption cover-ups
The most worrying aspect of this development is that the next group to be exonerated will be the appointees of the current administration. ORAL is nothing more than a political tool to protect the elite. Today, Collins Dauda, Ato Forson, and Kweku Agyemang Mensah have been cleared. Tomorrow, it will be other ministers, officials, and allies of the regime.

How long before ORAL exonerates those still looting public resources? The Ghanaian people deserve answers.

A country in need of true justice.
Aristotle once remarked, “It is not always the same thing to be a good man and a good citizen.” Good governance demands integrity, but under this administration, it is clear that loyalty to political interest outweighs loyalty to the rule of law.

Corruption is the cancer of democracy, and when a government bends the law to suit its interests, it sets a dangerous precedent that threatens the foundations of justice. The ORAL Committee is not the solution—it is part of the problem.

If Ghana is to win the fight against corruption, then the law must be upheld without favoritism or selective justice. Until then, ORAL will remain a fraudulent entity, shielding the corrupt while pretending to fight corruption. Justice is not justice when it serves only the powerful.

The Nation Demands our Devotion, And so help us God.

By :
Zakari GUA JNR. a.k.a Scorpio 🦂 ✍️
SECURITY AND JUSTICE ADVOCATE.
Email: [email protected]