By King Amoah.
Rev. David Armstrong, Founder and leader of the Mo Mary Fellowship in Kumasi, has urged the government to solidify its anti-corruption efforts by legalizing the functions of “Operation Retrieve All Loot” (ORAL) and making it a national policy.
Rev. Armstrong, a staunch supporter of President John Dramani Mahama’s initiative, believes the move would lend legitimacy to the operation and ensure its effectiveness in recovering ill-gotten gains and strengthening the national economy.
Rev. Armstrong in an exclusive interview with the correspondent King Amoah, has lauded President Mahama for introducing ORAL, emphasizing its potential to address widespread corruption and retrieve stolen assets for the benefit of the country. He expressed gratitude for the dedication of the personnel involved in the operation, acknowledging their efforts in pursuing corrupt individuals.
However, the clergyman also addressed concerns surrounding the legitimacy and perception of ORAL. According to him, current rumours suggest the operation is being viewed by some as a political tool used by the ruling NDC party to target members of the opposition NPP.
This criticism stems from the fact that ORAL is not currently backed by specific legislation, leaving it vulnerable to accusations of overreach and potential witch-hunts. Rev. Armstrong noted that corrupt officials often devise strategies to evade accountability, and the lack of legal backing for ORAL allows for these criticisms to gain traction.
To counter this, Rev. Armstrong has called on the Mahama administration to swiftly legalize the functions of Operation Retrieve All Loot. He believes that formalizing the operation through legislation would not only protect it from political attacks but also empower it to function more effectively and without public skepticism.
“The Operation Retrieve All Loot policy is laudable and needs to be legalized as a national policy to protect state interest,” Armstrong stated. He firmly believes that if his recommendation is taken into account, the nation will witness long-term stabilization of its finances and assets.
A national policy with clear legal mandates, he contends, would ensure that the effort to combat corruption is sustainable, transparent, and not viewed as a partisan vendetta.
By establishing ORAL with proper legal backing, the government can demonstrate its serious commitment to eradicating corruption and ensuring accountability, ultimately helping to build a stronger and more prosperous Ghana, Rev. Armstrong argues.
The move would also insulate the operation from claims of political bias, allowing it to focus on its primary objective of recovering stolen public funds, Armstrong pointed out.
