Attorney General and Justice Minister-Designate, Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, has defended the significance and legality of the the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) team, describing it as a key tool in ensuring accountability.
He indicated that ORAL is also critical in ensuring the government is able to recovery all the looted and misappropriated resources of the state.
His stance follows critiques about the legality of the ORAL team set up by President John Dramani Mahama.
Dr. Ayine during his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, January 13, 2025 insisted that the formation of ORAL sits within the remits of the law.
“If you look at the preamble to our Constitution, it is very clear about the fundamental values underpinning it. The value of accountability is one of the preambles in our Constitution,” he told the committee.
“ORAL is supposed to exact accountability from politically exposed persons who misuse their office to loot public resources by way of property, money, and other intangible resources, and so ORAL is constitutional,” he explained how ORAL aligns with principles of the 1992 constitution.
He indicated that although the ORAL team is a non-legal body, its constitution is legal.
The ORAL team was inaugurated on December 18, 2024, and chaired by Member of Parliament (MP) of North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
The ORAL team is tasked with recovering public funds and assets unlawfully acquired by individuals.
The team after its constitution has faced criticism over its perceived lack of a traditional legal framework.
