ORAL: We’re unhappy – NDC Ashanti Regional Chairman

Augustus Nana Kwesi Andrews has urged swift prosecutions to boost confidence in the government’s asset recovery drive

The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Augustus Nana Kwesi Andrews, has expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative. He said it’s slow progress has frustrated party supporters almost a year after its launch.

Speaking in an interview on JoyNews’ The Pulse, monitored by Today.com.gh, Mr Andrews said the absence of visible prosecutions under the initiative has created growing discontent among the party’s grassroots.

“I am not happy with the performance of ORAL. The grassroots are angry; it’s been close to a year now, and there are no prosecutions,” he said.

He explained that ORAL was introduced to recover misappropriated state resources and strengthen accountability, but delays in prosecuting alleged offenders have weakened public confidence in the initiative.

Mr Andrews referenced ongoing investigations into high-profile cases such as the National Cathedral project, former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, and Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi). He said resolving such matters through the courts would demonstrate the government’s seriousness about fighting corruption.

He also called for the establishment of specialised courts to handle ORAL-related prosecutions exclusively, noting that this would speed up justice delivery and prevent long delays that discourage public trust.

“We need dedicated courts to handle ORAL cases. That will help deliver justice quickly and bring closure to many of these long-standing issues,” he said.

According to Mr Andrews, faster and transparent prosecutions would not only reassure citizens of the government’s commitment to accountability but also deter public officials from engaging in corruption.

His comments come amid growing pressure on the Attorney-General’s Department to accelerate legal action linked to the ORAL initiative. Supporters and civil society groups have urged the government to demonstrate tangible results by securing convictions and recovering stolen state assets.

Mr Andrews emphasised that credibility in the anti-corruption campaign will depend on visible outcomes rather than promises. He added timely prosecutions will convince Ghanaians that the administration remains committed to justice and transparency.