Private legal practitioner, Austin Kwabena Brako-Powers, has cautioned that the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) risks severe political consequences in the 2028 elections if it fails to implement its flagship anti-corruption policy, Operation Recover All Loots (ORAL).
Having referred to it as the “catch” for government, he stressed that the policy was central to the party’s campaign platform, and its credibility rests on how effectively it delivers on this promise. “The NDC faces an inherent risk in the next election if they are unable to implement the ORAL policy,” he said bluntly.
Brako-Powers’ remarks followed recent disclosures by NDC General Secretary, Fiifi Kwetey, who criticised some party lawyers for allegedly attempting to shield individuals facing prosecution. Speaking at the 5th Annual General Conference of NDC Lawyers, Kwetey cautioned against internal sabotage of the government’s anti-corruption efforts.
“Despite the fact that pleas and pressure are coming, that punishment has to be meted, and this must be done properly – some among us are busy trying to cut deals with people who are supposed to be prosecuted”
Fiifi Kwetey, NDC General Secretary
The revelations, according to Brako-Powers, only confirmed longstanding suspicions about the government’s wavering commitment to ORAL.
“The question is: are you shocked? I am not in the least surprised. And it must be stated that we didn’t need Fiifi Kwetey’s revelation to tell us the true state of one of the NDC’s major campaign promises – Operation Recover All Loots (ORAL)”
Austin Kwabena Brako-Powers, Private legal practitioner
The legal practitioner, who also works as a synthetic AI researcher, criticised the Attorney-General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, for undermining the anti-corruption drive by withdrawing a series of cases involving NDC members. He described the approach as partisan and warned it risked discrediting the entire policy.
“The government cannot pick and choose. You can’t say, ‘I am discontinuing cases against NDC members’ and yet go ahead and prosecute persons from another party,” he argued. For him, such actions raise doubts about what the NDC’s true intentions and plans are.
“I don’t see them fighting corruption as they promised us,” Brako-Powers added, insisting that the government’s inconsistent handling of cases damages its image and erodes public confidence.
MFWA Director’s Warning
Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Sulemana Braimah, also weighed in on the debate, reminding the NDC that its RESET agenda was never about continuing corrupt practices from previous administrations.
“The RESET agenda did not simply mean NDC replacing NPP, and continuing with the state-fleecing deals and contracts signed under the NPP government.
“The RESET agenda meant NDC coming into power to reverse all the wrongs under the previous regime (and there were so many) and holding all those who committed any wrongs accountable”
Sulemana Braimah, Executive Director of MFWA
He criticised the silence that has followed earlier corruption-related controversies, particularly the ECG Containers and cocoa jute sack contracts.
“At the beginning of this government, we heard loud noises about ECG containers. The loud noise suddenly went silent as if nothing had happened. What happened? Who did anything wrong in the past regime, and who is being held accountable?”
Sulemana Braimah, Executive Director of MFWA
Braimah warned that current ministers or CEOs who inherited corrupt contracts or practices and choose to continue them would not only be betraying the RESET agenda but declaring themselves as “enemies of the nation.” The renewed criticism comes at a time when anti-corruption campaigners are monitoring the government’s record under President John Dramani Mahama.
With the ORAL policy serving as a cornerstone of the NDC’s governance agenda, analysts say its credibility will be judged on the extent to which it can recover misappropriated state resources and punish offenders without fear or favour.
Brako-Powers emphasised that unless the government demonstrates genuine commitment, it risks eroding the trust of the electorate. For him, the failure to act decisively on corruption will not only undermine ORAL but could cost the party dearly in the 2028 general election.
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