Former Auditor-General Dormelevo Applauds ORAL and OPAL Initiatives, Demands Accountability
Former Auditor-General Daniel Dormelevo has commended President John Dramani Mahama for not only championing Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) but also introducing Operation Prevent All Loot (OPAL) to safeguard public resources from future mismanagement.
Speaking in an interview with JoyNews‘ Maxwell Agbagba, following the submission of the ORAL report to the president, Domelevo expressed both optimism and caution regarding the government’s efforts to fight corruption.
“I am extremely happy that the President is not only focusing on recovering stolen resources through ORAL but is also emphasizing prevention with OPAL. Prevention is key if we want to stop corruption at its roots.”
Call for Swift Action and Fair Punishment
Dormelevo, a long-time advocate for transparency, urged President Mahama and Attorney General Dr. Dominic Ayine to ensure that those found guilty face justice. He warned that any failure to prosecute offenders would be a betrayal of the anti-corruption fight.
“If we have made sacrifices and put in all this effort, yet those culpable are allowed to walk free, I will be deeply disappointed in both the President and the Attorney General.”
While welcoming the move to hold the previous Akufo-Addo administration accountable, he also cautioned the current government against repeating the same mistakes.
“As we sanction the wrongdoing of the previous administration, the current government must not engage in similar acts. True accountability means holding everyone to the highest ethical standards, regardless of political affiliation.”
A Call for Higher Standards in Public Office
Dormelevo further stressed the need for a culture of higher accountability for those entrusted with public office. He urged the government to ensure that officeholders are monitored, regulated, and held to stricter standards to prevent corruption from taking root again.
“My prayer is that public office holders are subjected to the highest levels of accountability. Without this, the fight against corruption will only be temporary.”
End to Culture of Impunity
The former Auditor-General expressed frustration over the lack of consequences for financial mismanagement, emphasizing that custodians of public funds should not treat state resources as their personal wealth.
“Being a custodian of public funds does not give you the right to allocate them to yourself and your cronies. My biggest pain is that, in this country, there are no real consequences for misbehavior.”
Dormelevo stressed that this anti-corruption effort should serve as a historic deterrent, praising the president’s seriousness and the commitment of the ORAL team.
“For the first time, the body language of the president and the team has shown true seriousness. We have gathered information directly from the public, and now, the culture of impunity must stop.”
His remarks come at a time when the ORAL report, detailing over $21.19 billion in suspected stolen assets, has sparked intense national discussions on justice, governance, and the future of accountability in Ghana.
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