We never said we’ll jail people in 10 months – Edem Agbana

The Member of Parliament for Ketu North, Hon. Agbana Edem Eric, has debunked claims that the government promised to jail offenders within ten months under the Organised Response Against Lawlessness (ORAL) initiative.

He described such reports as misleading and a misrepresentation of the government’s true objectives.

Speaking on TV3’s New Day, which was closely followed by Today.com.gh, Hon. Agbana clarified that no specific timeline was ever announced for arrests or prosecutions under the ORAL programme.

He explained that the initiative’s focus is on tackling lawlessness, corruption, and abuse of public office through a thorough and constitutionally grounded process.

“We never stated anywhere that we were going to jail people in 10 months,” the MP stressed. “That assertion is false and must be corrected because due process takes time.”

Hon. Agbana noted that the ORAL initiative involves meticulous investigations and adherence to legal standards, which cannot be compromised in the name of speed. He said justice, while essential, must be achieved through credible and transparent means that stand up to scrutiny.

According to him, the government’s commitment to fighting corruption and impunity remains firm, but unrealistic timelines could undermine public confidence and pressure state institutions tasked with enforcing the law.

He acknowledged public impatience over the pace of action but urged citizens to understand the complexity of the legal process. “Justice must be done, but it must also be done properly,” he emphasized.

The Ketu North legislator concluded by calling on Ghanaians to remain patient and supportive, adding that the ORAL initiative is progressing steadily and will deliver lasting results through lawful and well-structured measures.

However, former Auditor-General, Daniel Yao Domelevo, has voiced frustration over the slow progress of corruption-related prosecutions under President John Dramani Mahama’s administration.

He said the Operation Recover All Loots (ORAL) initiative has not moved quickly enough to achieve meaningful results.

Speaking on The KSM Show on YouTube on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, Domelevo stated, “I am not satisfied at all. This is because I can’t see the tunnel, let alone talk about the light at the end of the tunnel. In fact, the prayer of the culprits and their lawyers is that there should be a change in government, and then the new one will enter a nolle prosequi, and our money is gone.”

As a member of the ORAL team, Domelevo expressed concern that the procedures adopted by the Attorney-General’s office are too slow to deliver timely outcomes. “The procedure that the current Attorney-General is using is going to be very difficult. Nine months is not a small amount of time. Before we know it, we will have finished the term of President Mahama. So, I think we have to change the speed at which we are moving,” he said.

Domelevo highlighted that the legal and procedural delays have allowed alleged offenders and their legal representatives to hope for changes in government that could negatively affect ongoing cases. He said this situation has hampered the ability of the ORAL initiative to recover state funds efficiently.

He further emphasized the need for a faster approach to prosecutions so that all involved parties face proper scrutiny and the misappropriated state funds can be retrieved promptly. Domelevo insisted that without acceleration, several cases risk remaining unresolved for an extended period.