Foreign Affairs Minister Designate, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has declared an unwavering commitment to retrieving looted state assets and funds, describing his role as chair of Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) as one of his proudest responsibilities in President John Mahama’s anti-corruption drive.
During his vetting before the Appointments Committee, Ablakwa hailed the establishment of ORAL as a “masterstroke” by President Mahama, highlighting its success in protecting key state properties from wrongful demolition.
He revealed that 20 government bungalows, occupied by staff from the Research Department of the Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Gender and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), were saved after ORAL intervened. He also cited the W.E.B. Du Bois Center and Northern Development Authority (NDA) lands, which were at risk of being taken over but were preserved through the team’s swift action.
He underscored the international dimension of ORAL, arguing that anti-corruption efforts must be consistent both at home and abroad. He pointed out that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has been an advocate for reparations on the international stage, calling for the return of looted African wealth and artifacts from colonial powers. However, he expressed disappointment that while some political actors champion the retrieval of stolen resources from foreign nations, they oppose domestic efforts to recover looted state assets in Ghana.
“You want the British, the French, and the Dutch and others to return the loot, but back home, you want looters to go scot-free? Let’s not do anything about looting, I find it really contradictory. Lets see some consistency,” he remarked.
He cited a World Bank report estimating that Africa loses approximately $88 billion annually to corruption, funds that could transform the continent’s development.
He listed key funds such as the Sky Train: $2.5 million, Agyapa: $12 million , National Cathedral project: $58 million etc Ghana could recover through ORAL.
Mr. Ablakwa referenced a 2021 parliamentary report, signed by Alexander Afenyo-Markin, which urged the Finance Ministry to recover the $2.85 million wrongly paid for Sputnik V vaccines. He argued that even Parliament has backed retrieval efforts, making it illogical to resist ORAL’s work.
He reaffirmed that ORAL is here to stay and will soon enter its second phase, focused on execution and recovery and announced that a comprehensive report would be submitted to President Mahama, who will determine the next steps in retrieving looted state assets and funds.