Government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu says the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) programme is already yielding results, rejecting claims that the anti-corruption drive is progressing too slowly.
The Member of Parliament for Abura Asebu‑Kwamankese made the remarks during an interview on PM Express on Joy News on Tuesday.
His comments follow concerns raised by some critics, including former Auditor-General Daniel Domelevo and others associated with the ORAL committee, who have questioned the pace of investigations and prosecutions.
Mr Kwakye Ofosu said several investigative bodies are actively handling corruption cases linked to the initiative.
According to him, the Attorney-General has within a year supervised investigations that have produced 27 completed dockets, while the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) is currently examining about 40 additional cases.
He added that the investigations have already led to the arrest of more than 140 individuals and the seizure of assets valued at about GH¢1.5 billion, with a number of suspects currently standing trial.
Mr Kwakye Ofosu explained that once cases are filed in court, the speed of proceedings is determined by the judiciary.
“When a case goes to court, neither critics nor government can determine how the judge conducts the case,” he said.
He stressed that the government will not interfere in the judicial process to accelerate trials.
Mr Kwakye Ofosu noted that while in opposition, the National Democratic Congress had often criticised the New Patriotic Party for allegedly attempting to influence the judiciary, and said the current government would not repeat that practice.
He said the government’s responsibility is to gather evidence, build strong cases and present them before the courts for determination.
Mr Kwakye Ofosu acknowledged that delays in Ghana’s judicial system have long been a source of public frustration but insisted that such delays cannot be attributed to the executive.
However, he revealed that the government is pursuing reforms to help speed up the handling of certain cases.
According to him, Cabinet has approved the reintroduction of a tribunal system provided for under the 1992 Constitution of Ghana to handle corruption and other complex financial crime cases.
He said the tribunal system, which had previously been shelved after facing criticism, will soon be revived to deal with cases arising from the ORAL initiative and other financial offences.
Mr Kwakye Ofosu reiterated that although reforms are being pursued, the government cannot dictate how quickly courts conclude cases.1
