Hon. James Klutse Avedzi, Member of Parliament for Ketu North and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, has stated that the newly established five-member Operation Recover All Loots (ORAL) team, formed by the President-elect, is primarily tasked with identifying and gathering information related to corruption or activities that may involve corrupt practices.
Avedzi clarified that, according to the team’s terms of reference, its role is not to lead prosecutions or make legal determinations but rather to receive, compile, and assess relevant information.
He emphasized that the team will focus on gathering intelligence and passing it on to the appropriate authorities for further action.
“Now, looking at the members of the committee, to me, they are all qualified, and I think that it’s a very strong team that can do the work to receive the information, process it, and take it up the level for the President to decide on what would be the next step of action to take.
“If you take, for instance, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, we have all seen him as somebody who has played a very vital role in terms of oversight. So we have got experience of parliamentary oversight on the executive arm of government and, all people who occupy public offices”.
Hon. James Klutse Avedzi
Avedzi further pointed out that Daniel Domelevo, “as many of you know”, is a qualified accountant. Before becoming the Auditor General, he had worked for many years with the Controller and Accountant General’s Department.
Additionally, he indicated that Domelevo had served as a consultant for the World Bank.
Accordingly, Avedzi emphasized that Domelevo’s extensive experience and qualifications made him highly capable in his role on the ORAL committee.
Avedzi Defends Timing of ORAL Committee Formation
Furthermore, James Klutse Avedzi expressed that he sees nothing wrong with the timing of the committee’s formation.
He explained that members of the public might possess valuable information and could be wondering how it would be handled.
By forming the committee now, Avedzi believes it provides reassurance to the public, especially those with knowledge of corrupt practices, and encourages them to come forward.
He emphasized that, in his view, the timing is perfectly appropriate and does not pose any issues.
“In any case, the President, Mahama, wouldn’t want to sit down and then after taking over before beginning to do things. It happens all over the world.
“So if now this is the time that he [Mahama] said, committee sit down, receive information from the public, and then after I take it over, you submit your report to me, and that will decide on what to do for me or to me. There is nothing, wrong with that. So I think that the timing is right”.
Hon. James Klutse Avedzi
Accordingly, he assured the public that the timing would not interfere with the work in any way and there was no cause for concern.
Avedzi also addressed the issue of payment for committee members, as raised by Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
He emphasized that there has been no mention of remuneration or payment for the members of the ORAL committee.
He further pointed out that this was not discussed because the terms of reference or the letter did not include any provision for it.
However, Avedzi noted that if the committee members are to be paid, their allowances would need to be determined through the budget.
He clarified that any payment would come from government funds, as the committee’s work is focused on recovering embezzled or looted funds.
Meanwhile, he asserted that the funds recovered by the ORAL team would eventually be returned to the government, where they would be utilized to finance key development initiatives and improve public services for the benefit of the citizens.
This process, Avedzi stressed, aims to strengthen national growth by ensuring that misappropriated resources are put to productive use.
