The Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) team has indicated that a significant number of corruption-related cases submitted to President John Dramani Mahama will require thorough auditing to confirm any wrongdoing and determine appropriate legal actions.
The team, which compiled a report detailing over 2,417 cases of alleged corruption, emphasized that independent financial and procurement audits will be necessary to establish the veracity of the claims.
Need for Forensic Audits
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday, February 11, former Auditor-General Daniel Domelevo, a member of the ORAL team, explained that the group does not have the legal mandate to conduct investigations.
Instead, he stressed that relevant government agencies must carry out forensic audits to determine breaches before any legal proceedings can commence.
“The bulk of the cases need auditing to establish whether they involved procurement breaches or financial misconduct,” Domelevo told host Bernard Avle. “Our mandate was to collect information, not to investigate.”
Government’s Anti-Corruption Efforts
The ORAL team was formed following President Mahama’s post-election commitment to recovering public funds lost to corruption. The President had reportedly received numerous reports of alleged financial fraud, leading to the establishment of ORAL to gather and document these cases.
Domelevo reiterated that ORAL’s role was strictly data collection, leaving further verification and legal action to designated investigative bodies.
As the government moves forward with its anti-corruption agenda, the focus will now be on forensic audits and legal scrutiny to ensure accountability and justice.
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