The Member of Parliament for Suame, John Darko expressed strong concerns over the legality of Operation Recover All Loots (ORAL) set up by President John Dramani Mahama.
Speaking on GHOne TV with Lilly Mohammed, Mr. Darko questioned the authority under which the committee was constituted, asserting that no constitutional or legal framework in Ghana empowers the president-elect to form such a body.
However, ORAL is a key component of President Mahama’s anti-corruption agenda which aims to recover assets and funds allegedly misappropriated by officials of the Akufo-Addo administration.
According to Darko, there is no provision in the Constitution or the Transition Act that grants the president the power to establish committees outside the scope of the law.
He emphasized that any such action could be seen as illegal, especially if individuals are summoned by a committee that lacks formal legal grounding.
John Darko also referred to the Whistleblowers Act, noting that if someone notices wrongdoing, they can report it through the proper channels, but creating a committee without legal authorization is not the correct approach.
He raised concerns about the potential for abuse if the committee, without legitimate authority, begins summoning people and acting as though it has the power to do so.
“As a country governed by law, we shouldn’t allow illegalities to continue. The President must always work within the confines of the Constitution. You cannot just set up a committee without any legal basis or authority. A president-elect has no power to set up committee to investigate people”.
“If I see some wrongdoing and report it to Okudzeto Ablakwa, it will be okay under the Whistleblowers Act. But we don’t set up a committee without a legal basis. You can’t just create a committee and expect people to rush to it, only for them to feel that they have the authority to summon people. If there is no legal basis for it, then what they are doing is illegal.”
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Deborah Amuzu
