Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, a former parliamentary aspirant for the NPP in the Abuakwa North constituency and a dedicated NPP supporter, has raised a critical question regarding President Mahama’s next steps.
He is asking whether it is time for the President to formally conclude the work of the ORAL Committee and request that the committee hand over its outstanding matters, including the 700 complaints it has reportedly gathered, to relevant constitutional bodies.
He suggested that the cases be handed over to institutions like the OSP, EOCO, CID, CHRAJ, FIC, and other constitutionally mandated bodies.
Dr. Boakye-Danquah emphasizes that these actions should be taken with the support of taxpayers’ resources.
“Trust me I believe in accountability, I believe that power must not corrupt people absolutely. I believe that public officials must disclose their earnings and explain wealth that is sometimes unexplainable. However, permit me to ask a few questions.
“President Mahama set up this committee during the transitional period. President Mahama is now the Man in Charge with all the constitutional backing to work with state institutions”.
Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah
Boakye-Danquah further questioned whether the mandate of the Oral Committee has now expired, considering that President Mahama is once again in charge.
He speculated if, with the new administration, it is time to re-evaluate the committee’s role and determine whether its work should be concluded or handed over to the appropriate state institutions under the current leadership.
The NPP stalwart highlighted that President Mahama is still in the process of assembling his team.
He raised the question of whether the newly appointed Director of Operations at the Presidency will step down from his role on the Oral Committee or continue to be involved, especially given his integral position within the broader National Security Architecture.
According to him, this raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest or the need for a clearer delineation of responsibilities within the new administration.
Ministerial Appointment to Harm ORAL’s Credibility
Additionally, Bright Simons, Vice President of IMANI Africa, expressed concerns that President Mahama is being warned by an international bank about the potential disruptions caused by a particular ministerial appointment.
Simons emphasized that maintaining the credibility of the ORAL Committee is crucial, and to do so, the government must uphold the moral high ground.
He suggested that any appointment that could compromise this principle may undermine the committee’s integrity and the government’s ability to effectively address pressing issues.
“Those who care about the reputation of the new Ghanaian government would be interested in knowing that an international bank has reached out confidentially to the office of the current President with a warning that an individual he intends to name to the high ministerial office is the subject of adverse investigations. And that the outcomes of these investigations may become public”.
Bright Simons
Simons further pointed out that any Ghanaian government must steer clear of what he referred to as a “chain of scandals.”
He stressed that allowing a series of controversies to unfold could severely damage the public’s trust in the government and its institutions.
By avoiding such scandals, the government can maintain its credibility, ensure transparency, and uphold the confidence of both domestic and international stakeholders.
Simons emphasized that it is vital for the government to act with integrity and make decisions that do not invite further scrutiny or controversy.
He warned that scandals tend to accumulate over time, gradually eroding public goodwill.
According to him, this erosion of goodwill can ultimately lead to a loss of support from the public, making it harder for the government to effectively govern and implement its policies.
Simons emphasized the importance of preventing such a buildup, as the long-term consequences of accumulated scandals can be detrimental to the government’s standing. “We can’t say more than this”.
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