The report of the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) Committee will today be presented to President John Dramani Mahama for further action.
“Monday, I will be receiving the report of the committee I set up to prepare the way for the implementation of Operation Recover All Loot,” the President revealed.
“Upon receipt of the report, appropriate actions will be taken against those who are deemed to have acted against the economic and financial interest of this country through corruption and related acts.”
President Mahama gave this indication at the Presidency in Accra on Friday when he swore into office 17 ministers as he continue to constitute his government.
The ORAL, chaired by the newly sworn-in Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, was set up by the President to gather information on persons, especially in the previous government, who may have misappropriated public funds.
Other members of the committee are Daniel Yaw Domelevo, a former Auditor-General, COP (Rtd) Nathan Kofi Boakye, Martin Kpebu, a private legal practitioner and Raymond Archer, a celebrated investigative journalist.
President Mahama said in as much as it was good to pursue appointees of the previous government for allegedly engaging in acts of corruption, appointees of his administration would not be spared the rod of accountability.
“While it is all well and good to hold past office holders accountable for their actions, it is even better to prevent the incident of corruption in the first place.
“As I’ve already indicated many times, I’ll be holding all my appointees in this government to the strictest standards of accountability to ensure that the mandate and resources entrusted to us by the people of Ghana go only into working for them and improving their standards of living,” he stated.
In this regard, President Mahana said to ensure accountability and decorum in government, he would be outdooring a code of conduct and standards for all government officials to guide their conducts as outlined in the 120-days social contract the governing party had with the Ghanaian people in the run-up to the 2024 polls.
“This will leave you in no doubt about what you can do and what you cannot do whiles serving in public office. You must make this code of conduct your guide and keep it like a Bible by your bedside,” he stressed.
The 17 newly sworn in ministers are made up of seven sector ministers, two ministers of state and eight regional ministers.
They are Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, Labour, Jobs and Employment; Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Environment, Science and Technology; Sam Nartey George, Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations; Kofi Iddie Adams, Sports and Recreation; Joseph Bukari Nikpe, Transport; Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Health; and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Foreign Affairs.
Others are Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Minister of State, Government Communications; Seidu Issifu, Minister of State, Climate Change and Sustainability; Mrs Charity Gardener, Regional Minister, Ahafo; Salisu Be-Awuribe, Savannah; and Joseph Nelson, Western.
The rest are Wilbert Petty Brentum, Western North; Joseph Addae Akwaboa, Bono; Francis Owusu Antwi, Bono East; Eduamoah Ekow Panyin Okyere, Central; and Puozuing Charles Lwanga, Upper West.
BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI
