Former President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed that the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative was established to fight corruption and uphold accountability in public office, not to unfairly target individuals.
Addressing members of the Ghana Bar Association during a courtesy call on Wednesday, Mahama emphasized that ORAL serves as a structured platform for whistleblowers to report corruption, with proper investigative mechanisms in place.
"One of the key challenges we face is corruption and accountability in public office. It has unfortunately become common for individuals to misuse public funds," Mahama stated.
He highlighted that corruption was among the top concerns of Ghanaians in the last election campaign, reinforcing the need for a stronger governmental response.
According to Mahama, ORAL provides a direct reporting avenue through a hotline, which has already received over 2,000 calls. While some reports lacked merit, others contained substantial evidence and were forwarded to the Attorney General for further action.
He stressed that the initiative is not a tool for political persecution but an essential mechanism in the fight against corruption.
"I want to make it clear that ORAL is not about witch-hunting. It is a crucial instrument in the broader effort to combat corruption," Mahama affirmed.
His remarks underscored the government’s commitment to enhancing transparency and accountability in governance.