MP for North Tongu and chairperson of the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) committee, Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, has defended the anti-corruption initiative amidst attacks from the Minority caucus in Parliament.
In a statement on Twitter on January 19, 2025, Ablakwa claimed that the NPP’s criticism stems from fear that their members’ alleged wrongdoings will be exposed.
Ablakwa highlighted a controversial land deal involving NPP MP Kennedy Osei Nyarko, who reportedly acquired prime public land in Cantonments for a mere GHS42,000.00 (US$2,800.00) under President Akufo-Addo’s authorization in 2021.
“Unimpeachable and irrefutable Lands Commission documents reveal that President Akufo-Addo authorized this outrageously unconscionable transaction in 2021. (See attached).
“The NPP MP who benefited from this condemnable rip-off is Hon. Kennedy Osei Nyarko, MP for Akim Swedru.
“The unbelievable terms of this sweetheart deal only required the MP to pay an annual ground rent of a meagre GHS10,500.00 from 1st January, 2021 to 31st December, 2024 amounting to GHS42,000.00 (US$2,800.00) for him to take over the land,” he said.
Ablakwa emphasized that public lands belong to all Ghanaians and criticized the former administration for looting state assets.
“What is not right is certainly not right. I know there are many patriotic NPP members who will not support such naked injustice.
“Those who have not looted from the Ghanaian people do not attack ORAL — indeed, they boldly support ORAL, as the Constitution demands of all good citizens.
“The current generation of politicians must reflect and acknowledge that if those who came before us engaged in such despicable unpatriotic conduct, no state asset would have been left for us.
He called for unity in supporting ORAL and proposed a new bill to ban politicians from purchasing state assets without parliamentary approval and value for money audits.
“For our collective good as a nation— let us ignore those who seek to reduce this to a pedestrian NDC-NPP banter. Let’s remain united and focused in stopping the looting brigade.
“ORAL has come to stay! State Capture shall surely be defeated! The loot shall be recovered!” he added.
What is ORAL?
Operational Recover All Loot (ORAL) is an initiative launched by President John Dramani Mahama before he formally assumed office.
The primary objective of ORAL is to recover misappropriated public funds and state properties, addressing corruption and promoting accountability in government.
The initiative has garnered support from anti-corruption advocates but also faced criticism, particularly from members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Critics question the legality of ORAL, arguing that Mahama lacked the authority to establish it as president-elect.
They also suggest that the initiative may be politically motivated and could lead to harassment of former government officials.
Despite these criticisms, ORAL aims to promote accountability, deter corruption, and recover stolen assets, which can be redirected to critical sectors such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
See the post below:
Is the NPP Minority in Parliament launching such vicious, vile and baseless attacks at President Mahama’s widely celebrated ORAL anti-corruption initiative because of the fear that soon Ghanaians will come into full knowledge of the atrocities some of their members have committed… pic.twitter.com/QFh77IRkMm
— Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) January 19, 2025
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Meanwhile, watch as Empress Gifty’s mother; Evangelist Agnes Annan (Agaga) goes home below:
