Osagyefo Mawuse Oliver Barker-Vormawor, the outspoken activist and lead convener of #FixTheCountry Movement, has demanded swift action over the National Democratic Congress (NDC) promise to tackle corruption through “Operation Recover All Loot“ (ORAL).
In a strongly worded statement, Barker-Vormawor juxtaposed the current government’s slow pace in addressing corruption with the swift and decisive measures taken by the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) in the 1980s.
According to the radical activists, the PNDC quickly established legal frameworks for recovering illicitly acquired assets.
“When the PNDC promised ORAL, within 1 week, we had: PNDC Law 1 which was the Citizens Vetting Committee Law. That law made it a requirement for everyone with money and property beyond a certain threshold to appear before the CVC and account for it. But the PNDC was a military government so we say that is bad.”
Osagyefo Mawuse Oliver Barker-Vormawor
Barker-Vormawor questioned why the current democratic dispensation, which claims to uphold the rule of law, has failed to take equally robust actions.
He scoffed at the concept of a “lifestyle audit,” a modern euphemism for what he argues is a watered-down approach to accountability.
He pointed out that while the PNDC’s Citizen Vetting Committee aggressively pursued those suspected of economic malfeasance, today’s so-called democratic mechanisms lack the urgency and effectiveness to yield real results.
He further drew attention to the National Investigations Committee Law of 1982 (PNDC Law 2), which provided the structural foundation for what is now being termed the ORAL Preparatory Committee.
However, Barker-Vormawor posited that unlike the PNDC era, which swiftly enacted laws and executed anti-corruption measures, the current NDC leadership is bogged down in endless legal debates over the legitimacy of their own committee, a delay that Barker-Vormawor finds exasperating.
“Fighting corruption is as simple as 1, 2, 3—Kpa kpa kpa,” he asserted, suggesting that the current administration’s approach lacks the boldness required to achieve meaningful change.
Targeting the Big Fish
Barker-Vormawor did not mince words in identifying individuals and entities he believes should be the immediate targets of ORAL.
He particularly singled out Databank, the investment firm co-founded by former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, as a prime suspect in financial irregularities.
“Seize Databank,” he urged, alleging that the firm thrives on proceeds of crime. In his view, a strong anti-corruption effort would not hesitate to confiscate assets linked to financial misconduct rather than engage in prolonged press conferences that yield no tangible outcomes.
Barker-Vormawor also accused the government of shielding high-profile figures such as President Nana Akufo-Addo and former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta from accountability.
He suggested that the house allegedly bought by former President Akufo-Addo in France should be investigated and, if proven to be linked to illicit funds, confiscated without delay.
Turning his attention to the NDC, Barker-Vormawor issued a stern warning against what he described as the party’s performative approach to fighting corruption.
He accused them of toying with the expectations of the Ghanaian people, particularly those who are disillusioned with the current state of governance.
“NDC, listen, our eyes red oo. Don’t tease and tantalize us with foreplay if you are not ready to penetrate,” he declared, using a provocative metaphor to emphasize his frustration with the party’s failure to take decisive action.
He called for an end to symbolic gestures such as press conferences and public apologies, arguing that they serve no real purpose in the fight against corruption.
According to him, only concrete actions, such as asset seizures and rigorous prosecutions, will restore public confidence in the government’s commitment to accountability.
Barker-Vormawor’s critique raises significant questions about the effectiveness of the ORAL initiative.
While the NDC has touted ORAL as a game-changer in retrieving looted state funds and assets, Barker-Vormawor strongly opined that without firm legislative backing and the political will to act swiftly, it risks becoming another failed promise.
The activist’s reference to the PNDC era serves as a reminder that tackling corruption requires more than political rhetoric, instead, it requires strong political will.
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