The Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, says a total of 280 corruption and corruption-related cases are currently under investigation as part of the government’s accountability drive.
Speaking in an interview on JoyNews on Monday, January 26, Mr Kwakye explained that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presented Operation Uncover All Roots (ORAL) to Ghanaians as a key tool to ensure accountability among public office holders.
“The NDC tabled Operation Uncover All Roots as a proposition to the people as a main tool through which we will ensure that accountability is demanded from public office holders,” he said.
According to him, since the government took office, significant steps have been taken to act on allegations of corruption. He disclosed that the Oral Preparatory Committee compiled information on 280 alleged cases and submitted a report to the Attorney General.
“They presented a report with the 280 cases, and I can tell you that the Attorney General has commissioned investigations into each of them,” Mr Kwakye Ofosu stated.
However, he said that the report itself could not be used to prosecute anyone without proper investigations.
“The report itself could not have formed the basis for any legal action against anybody because they were just reports. I cannot simply say that because you have said something, then I hold someone and throw him into jail. It would not make sense.”
Assessing Ghana’s fight against corruption, he said the scale of waste and abuse of public resources under the previous administration made a change in government unavoidable. “I think that it was obvious that there was simply too much waste, corruption, and theft of public resources,” he said.
“You in the media were the ones who used to bombard us with corruption scandal after corruption scandal, and it got to a point where we simply became fatigued and came to the conclusion that there was a need to change government.”
Mr Kwakye Ofosu revealed that progress has already been made on several of the cases. “I can tell you that more than 100 people have been held for questioning. Some have been arrested. Some were detained for some time. Some have been granted bail, and others, too, are in court,” he said.
He added that more than 20 cases have reached an advanced stage. “There are over 20 cases whose dockets are almost done and will be going to court. The Attorney General has already proceeded to court on a number of those cases,” he noted.
While acknowledging public impatience for quick results, the minister urged Ghanaians to respect due process.
“I understand that because of the pervasive nature of the corruption in the recent past, people want to see results, and they want it done rapidly. The government appreciates that fully. Except that ORAL itself has to be done in accordance with Ghanaian law. We cannot act extra-judicially,” he said.
He explained that once cases reach the courts, timelines are no longer controlled by the Attorney General or the government.
“When the Attorney General prepares his case and goes to court, it is a court that is in control. The court determines the timelines, how the process is conducted, and when the case ends.”
Mr Kwakye Ofosu said that fairness must remain central to the fight against corruption.
“Justice has to be done. The operative word is justice. You must use fair means to assess an individual’s guilt or innocence, and that is precisely what is happening.”
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