Data Scientist and Policy Analyst, Alfred Appiah, has called out Dominic Ayine, the Attorney-General (AG) and Minister for Justice, over the lack of recoveries under the Mahama government’s Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative.
Alfred Appiah asserted that Ghanaians were told to expect $21 billion to be recovered through ORAL, but 18 months down the line, the people of Ghana are yet to see any significant recoveries.
It will be recalled that the ORAL team, on February 10, 2025, submitted their final report to President John Mahama.
The chairman of Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) and Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa revealed that with just 36 cases, Ghana can potentially recover $ 20.49 billion in stolen state resources.
The Policy Analyst also questioned why smaller cases like the $2M Sky Train project and Chairman Wontumi’s galamsey cases have received faster attention than multibillion claims tied to the Bank of Ghana’s past cash printing policy.
According to Alfred Appiah, Wontumi’s galamsey-related cases receive early attention while other cases with potentially much larger financial implications appear to be moving more slowly?
In a post shared on X, Aifred Appiah wrote, “We have been told that there is about $21 billion to be recovered through ORAL. That could fund government spending for more than a year. That naturally raises questions about how the Attorney General’s Department is prioritising its cases.
For example, how does the alleged $2 million Sky Train case become a priority over the multibillion-dollar allegations surrounding the Bank of Ghana’s cash printing? Or why does Wontumi’s galamsey-related cases receive early attention while other cases with potentially much larger financial implications appear to be moving more slowly?
It has been about 18 months since ORAL was launched, yet we are still waiting to see significant recoveries that can be directly attributed to it. Recoveries that would have occurred through the normal work of EOCO or other state institutions should not be presented as evidence of ORAL’s success.
The Attorney General’s Department has also not indicated how much it realistically expects ORAL to recover. Without clear targets and timelines, it becomes difficult for the public to assess whether the initiative is delivering on its promise.
The public deserves more transparency on the prioritisation of cases, the value of assets targeted for recovery, the amounts recovered so far through ORAL itself, and the expected recoveries going forward!
Meanwhile, the Attorney General, Dominic Ayine, has said the $20 billion ORAL’s projection recovery could be achieved if offshore funds being pursued are added.
According to the Attorney General, Ablakwa’s $20 billion ORAL’s projection recovery places enormous pressure on him because Ghanaians now expect that amount to be delivered.
Speaking on Starr Chat with Bola Ray on Thursday, Dr Ayine explained that the $20 billion was Ablakwa’s own calculations and estimates.
He, however, asserted that the recovery could approach $20 billion if funds being pursued offshore are taken into account.
Dr Ayine detailed, “First, I was asked when we are going to see the $20 billion being recovered. I explained that this figure was a projection made by the ORAL Committee Chairperson, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, when we came into power.
“On the day the ORAL report was handed over to me, he mentioned the $20.1 billion figure. However, that amount was based on his own calculations and estimates.” He stated.
He further explained, “When you take DRIP, the amount involved is over $100 million. When you consider the estimated value of lands allegedly looted, including prime lands such as those in Cantonments, the figures rise significantly.
However, the amount mentioned by the ORAL Chairman was more of a back-of-the-envelope calculation rather than a precise or verified figure. The expectation of a $20 billion recovery places enormous pressure on me because the public now expects that amount to be delivered.”
Dr Ayine further detailed, “It could approach $20 billion if funds being pursued offshore are taken into account, because a lot of money was moved out of the country. But when it comes to what is currently in-country, the figures will depend on the specific cases under investigation.”
See the post below:
We have been told that there is about $21 billion to be recovered through ORAL. That could fund government spending for more than a year. That naturally raises questions about how the Attorney General’s Department is prioritizing its cases.
— Alfred (@CallmeAlfredo) July 1, 2026
For example, how does the alleged $2…
