KEY POINTS
- Mahama says ‘Operation Recover All Loot’ aims to ensure accountability.
- Energy sector faces $2.5 billion debt as Mahama promises urgent reforms.
- Agriculture and mining sectors will prioritize value addition and sustainability.
President-Elect John Dramani Mahama has made it clear that his administration’s “Operation Recover All Loot” (ORAL) initiative is not a witch-hunt. Instead, it aims to tackle corruption by gathering evidence to support the prosecution of corrupt officials.
During a meeting with the Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana, Miriam Montrat, Mahama explained that ORAL would work alongside established state institutions with investigative powers, not replace them. The initiative, he noted, was part of his administration’s broader mission to ensure transparency and good governance.
The President-Elect clarified that ORAL is not an investigative body but a focal point for collecting evidence of corruption. This evidence will be handed over to appropriate authorities, such as the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the Office of the Special Prosecutor, for further investigation and prosecution.
“I announced the preparatory committee, and I think people are misunderstanding it,” Mahama said. “If people have evidence, they can pass it on to this team.”
According to Graphic Online, the President-Elect stressed that the team operates pro bono, meaning it does not incur costs to the taxpayer. He emphasized that ORAL’s mission is to restore public confidence in government institutions.
Investments, agriculture, and mining top Mahama’s priority list
Looking ahead, Mahama highlighted his administration’s investment priorities, particularly in agriculture, mining, and technology. He said that it is not enough for Ghana to produce agricultural products without adding value. His government intends to focus on agro-processing, which would ensure better prices for farmers and increase Ghana’s export capacity.
One key intervention is addressing the inefficiencies in the National Buffer Stock, which is responsible for purchasing and storing excess produce. Mahama proposed a stronger role for the private sector in managing the buffer stock to stabilize farm prices and reduce post-harvest losses.
On mining, the President-Elect stated that his government would introduce advanced technology to reclaim mined lands. This approach is part of his vision to promote sustainable mining practices that protect the environment and improve community livelihoods.
His focus on technology-driven reforms is expected to increase efficiency and sustainability in the agriculture and mining sectors.
Energy sector needs urgent reform, Mahama says
Mahama was critical of the outgoing administration’s handling of Ghana’s energy sector, which he described as mismanaged and burdened with debt. He revealed that his administration had uncovered a $2.5 billion debt in the energy sector due to mismanagement by the outgoing government.
“The energy sector is another area in which the outgoing administration has mismanaged in a major way,” Mahama said. “They have kept the lights on at the expense of accruing a huge debt.”
According to the President-Elect, this debt is being audited, and his administration intends to take urgent action to restore stability to the sector. He criticized the mismanagement of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), stating that it was recording commercial and technical losses of 32 percent.
“The energy sector needs surgery,” he said, signaling that his government would introduce drastic reforms to reduce inefficiencies and improve service delivery.
Mahama criticized the outgoing government for presenting an overly optimistic view of the economy, stating that the real situation is worse than reported. He assured Ghanaians that his administration would be transparent about the true state of the economy.
“They want to create an upbeat story about their economic management before they leave office,” he said. “We will open the books and let Ghanaians know the true situation because if Ghanaians understand the true situation, they will support the measures we have to take to bring things back to normal.”
