Mahama never said ORAL has recovered GH¢600 million – Kwakye Ofosu clarifies

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Felix Kwakye Ofosu

Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has dismissed claims suggesting that President John Mahama stated that the ¢600 million recovered by EOCO was in respect of ORAL.

Felix Kwakye Ofosu detailed that Mahama never referred to ORAL in respect of the GH¢600 million recovery, describing the claims as inaccurate.

Speaking on the floor of parliament, Felix Kwakye Ofosu stated, “It has also been claimed that the President said that EOCO has recovered 600 million Ghana Cedis from Operation Recover All Loots. Mr Speaker, that is not accurate. The President never made reference to ORAL in respect of the GH¢600 million Ghana Cedis,” he insisted”.

He further added that a total of GHC1.5bn in assets has been frozen as ORAL investigations continue.

Kwakye Ofosu added, “…Mr Speaker, I can report to you that 1.5 billion Ghana cedis in assets have been frozen by people undergoing investigations and those before court, and they include those who are involved in the 280 ORAL cases that are currently being looked into,” he said.

“Mr Speaker, in respect of ORAL, unless and until persons who are under investigation or are before the court have been convicted, you cannot recover anything from them. The most that can be done is that their assets can be frozen,” he explained.

Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has recovered more than GH₵600 million in stolen public funds.

Delivering his 2026 State of the Nation Address on Friday, February 27, President John Mahama detailed, “As of December 2025, EOCO had recovered more than GHS 600 million.

The Office has investigated 462 cases, with 15 currently under prosecution, and dismantled transnational car-jacking syndicates, recovering 29 luxury vehicles”.

President Mahama further stressed that his government remains resolute in the quest to recover stolen public resources.

Mahama detailed that he understands that the majority of Ghanaians are impatient about the NDC government ORAL but argued that painstaking investigations must be conducted, dockets must be prepared.

Mahama added, “Mr Speaker, the Government remains resolute that corruption will not be tolerated, regardless of status or political affiliation. The Attorney General’s Office will continue to use both criminal prosecution and non-conviction-based asset recovery mechanisms to ensure that stolen public resources are returned for national development.

I understand that a large majority of Ghanaians are impatient to see those who abused their trust in office held to account.

There were periods when, under military regimes and unconstitutional governments, extrajudicial means could be used to exact retribution against persons perceived as corrupt or who had abused the public trust”.

He added, “This may have appeared as swift justice, but many regrettable excesses were recorded.In 1992, we overwhelmingly adopted the 1992 constitution to accept governance by the rule of law.

On 7th January 2025, I swore before the people of Ghana to uphold the 1992 Constitution. I may be as impatient as everyone else to see justice done, but painstaking investigations must be conducted, dockets must be prepared, charges must be filed, and the accused must have their day in court, including appealing even the smallest points of law to higher courts.

This process is necessary to protect us all against abuse or ill-treatment of citizens and to ensure that only those guilty of offences against the state are punished”.

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