A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Winans, has assured Ghanaians that the government remains committed to recovering every penny allegedly taken from the state in its Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) agenda.
According to him, the government will pursue all funds and assets believed to have been unlawfully taken from the state and ensure that persons found culpable are held accountable.
“Every single loot will be recovered,” Mr. Winans said, stressing that the fight against corruption must go beyond allegations and result in concrete action.
He also called for the prosecution of former government officials found to have been complicit in corruption or other forms of wrongdoing in the course of their official duties.
His comments follow calls by businessman and economist Dr. Kofi Amoah for President John Mahama to seize what he describes as a rare “perfect storm” created by the conviction of former Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) Managing Director Asante Kwaku Berko.
Dr. Amoah has challenged President Mahama to use the conviction to demonstrate, in clear and unmistakable terms, his administration’s commitment to its stated zero-tolerance approach to corruption.
The former Goldman Sachs executive was convicted in the United States over a bribery and money-laundering scheme linked to a Ghanaian power project.
According to Dr. Amoah, the conviction has provided Ghana with critical evidence and an opportunity to pursue individuals on the Ghanaian side who may have been involved in or benefited from the alleged scheme.
In a strongly worded commentary on his verified X account, Dr. Amoah argued that the US judicial process, with cooperation from the United Kingdom, had already done much of the difficult work by bringing the case to judgment and providing information that could assist Ghanaian authorities in identifying officials and parliamentarians who may have participated in or benefited from the alleged scheme.
Mr. Winans, however, maintains that the government is committed to ensuring accountability and recovering state resources lost through corruption.
He said the ORAL agenda should not be viewed merely as a political exercise but as part of efforts to protect public resources and strengthen accountability in Ghana.
He further urged relevant state institutions to pursue credible corruption cases to their logical conclusion, including prosecution where sufficient evidence exists, to ensure that the fight against corruption produces tangible results.
By: Bernard Mensah
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