By Nelson Ayivor
Prof. Stephen Kwaku Asare, a respected legal scholar and Democracy and Development Fellow at CDD-Ghana, has emphasized the urgent need for loot recovery as a vital strategy to protect Ghana’s public resources and strengthen accountability.
According to him, the fight against corruption does not necessarily require creating new government agencies but rather fully utilizing the country’s existing legal and institutional frameworks.
Prof. Asare highlighted this while discussing recent scandals involving public funds and state resources.
He drew attention to the growing issue of ghost names being added to payrolls, such as the case at the National Service Authority (NSA), stressing that retrieving such funds through the Auditor-General falls squarely within the mandate of Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL).
“Prosecuting those who ran the ghost parade? Also ORAL. If state lands are looted and later clawed back by the Lands Commission, that too is ORAL in action.
“And if contracts are inflated with fat bellies and padded invoices, trimming the fat and clawing back the excess — whether done by GRA, AuG, or EOCO — is ORAL all the way.”
Prof. Asare dismissed the notion that Ghana needs to establish a separate Ministry for Loot Recovery.
He argued that existing institutions, such as the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), the police, and the Attorney General’s office, already have the legal mandate and technical capacity to handle loot recovery operations effectively.
In a direct message to those calling for new bureaucratic structures, he added that there is no need for a “new Ministry of Loot Recovery with its own police force, uniforms, sirens, auditors, and prosecutors.”
“Now, if the OVAL (Operation Vindicate All Looters) apostles prefer to baptize recoveries with some other holy name, so be it. Call it ‘AuG business,’ ‘miracle manna,’ ‘repatriated generosity,’ or even ‘loot offertory.’”
He emphasized that the focus should not be on the name or branding of the initiative but on the actual recovery of stolen funds and assets.
According to him, what truly matters is ensuring that these resources are returned to the state to serve the public good, as this ultimately strengthens the nation and benefits all citizens.
Togbe Afede Backs Loot Recovery, Anti-Corruption Drive:
Meanwhile, Togbe Afede XIV, the paramount chief of the Asogli State, also echoed Prof. Asare’s call for decisive action against corruption.
Speaking about the challenges facing Ghana, Togbe Afede warned that graft remains one of the country’s most dangerous obstacles to development.
He urged the government to intensify its anti-corruption campaigns, pointing out that eliminating corruption is critical to unlocking Ghana’s potential and ensuring equitable development for its citizens.
“The government needs to be fighting corruption head-on. I am glad, so far, of the ORAL project. This big initiative, complemented by exciting policies such as the 24-hour economy, will deliver the development we want and continue to make Ghana an example for Africa.”
The traditional leader’s remarks reinforce the growing consensus among policymakers, legal experts, and civil society leaders that tackling corruption is essential for national progress.
Ghana’s public finances have come under significant strain in recent years due to widespread corruption scandals involving payroll fraud, inflated contracts, and misappropriated state assets.
Experts like Prof. Asare believe that effective loot recovery could provide a major boost to government finances while also deterring future acts of corruption.
By reclaiming funds and assets that have been wrongfully taken, the state can reallocate resources to critical sectors such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure development.
This, in turn, would help improve public trust in government institutions and promote sustainable economic growth.
However, Prof. Asare emphasized that the success of ORAL depends on strong political will and consistent enforcement by existing agencies.
Without accountability and transparency, he warned, efforts to recover looted assets may fall short.
Togbe Afede’s call for a head-on fight against corruption serves as a reminder that the issue is not merely a political debate but a matter of national survival.
If the government can demonstrate meaningful progress in fighting graft through initiatives like ORAL, Ghana could position itself as a model for anti-corruption efforts across Africa.
As the debate around ORAL and loot recovery intensifies, the focus now shifts to how quickly and effectively the government can act to ensure that public resources are protected and returned to the people.