Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Minister for Foreign Affairs, has reaffirmed his commitment to Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL), stressing that the principles of the initiative have guided all major decisions under his leadership at the ministry.
He made the statement during the ministry’s presentation at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, September 15, 2025, where he defended recent actions taken to safeguard state assets and strengthen transparency.
The Minister, who previously chaired ORAL before assuming his current role, underscored the importance of the campaign as a response to public demand for accountability and as a cornerstone of President John Dramani Mahama’s government.
“As the former chairman of Operation Recover All Loot, ORAL, which was a cornerstone of President Mahama’s campaign and a legitimate popular demand of the Ghanaian people, I can confirm that the principles of ORAL strongly undergird every decision I take as Minister for Foreign Affairs”
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Minister for Foreign Affairs
He cited several recoveries achieved under the initiative, beginning with the repossession of ministry lands at Airport Residential Area which had been sold.
He also recounted how the attempted illegal sale of Ghana’s diplomatic property in Lagos, Nigeria, was aborted, with national security leading the arrest of Bright Mensah Bonsu, the prime suspect who had received $1.5 million outside government accounts.
“He was on a frolic of his own, not a staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, even though he managed to obtain a diplomatic passport. I am glad to say that ORAL is working in our ministry. He has been picked up – and that $1.5 million must be returned to the owners. That property is not for sale”
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Minister for Foreign Affairs
The Minister further explained that a decision to sell Ghana’s diplomatic property in Lusaka, Zambia, had been reversed. He stressed that under his tenure, the sale of the ministry’s landed properties would not be tolerated. To back this resolve, “an asset register,” has been established to ensure a complete inventory of all ministry assets is maintained.
Hon. Ablakwa also disclosed that a $3.5 million renovation contract for Ghana’s Abidjan Embassy, signed in November 2024, had been cancelled because it failed to follow due process and had not been budgeted for. He described the action as a necessary step to “protect public funds.”
He further addressed corruption issues that had rocked Ghana’s mission in Washington, D.C., noting that the ministry had acted decisively to confront the canker and had introduced systemic reforms to restore credibility.
“Ladies and gentlemen, to guarantee value for money, transparency, and accountability, no contract has been awarded on a single-source basis since I became foreign minister. There is strict instruction to our procurement department to ensure that all procurement is competitive and complies with the Public Procurement Act”
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Minister for Foreign Affairs
He pointed out that procurement practices under his watch have been subjected to competitive bidding, including services such as passport courier operations, airline ticketing, and the ongoing passport head office project.
The Minister assured Ghanaians that these reforms were designed not just to address corruption but also to create sustainable systems that would outlive his tenure.
The accountability session, he noted, provided the ministry with a platform to openly engage the public on the measures being undertaken to improve transparency, efficiency, and asset protection.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ turn at the Accountability Series marked a significant moment in the government’s broader campaign to reassure the public of its commitment to open governance.
With foreign missions serving as Ghana’s representation abroad, Hon. Ablakwa stressed that accountability in the ministry was not negotiable, insisting that assets would be safeguarded, contracts would remain transparent, and corruption would be dealt with decisively.
READ ALSO: Kanye West Ordered To Pay $76K Legal Fees
