ORAL is on track and will succeed — Dominic Ayine insists

The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice,, has mounted a strong defence of the government’s Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative, insisting that the anti-corruption programme remains active, effective, and firmly on track despite growing criticism from the opposition (NPP).

Dr Ayine made the remarks while responding to comments made by the NPP’s National Youth Organiser,, who warned that the opposition party could take actions capable of destabilising governance if what he described as harassment and intimidation of NPP members by state institutions continued.

Mr Mustapha reportedly made the comments on Tuesday, May 19, during a courtesy visit by senior officials of the NPP to the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, where the party raised concerns about recent political developments and alleged politically motivated actions against some of its members.

According to the NPP youth organiser, the opposition would not remain silent while its members were allegedly targeted through investigations, arrests, and prosecutions linked to corruption-related cases.

However, speaking to journalists after the event, Dr Ayine dismissed suggestions that the government was intimidated by the opposition’s warnings and reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to constitutional democracy, the rule of law, and the protection of civil liberties.

“As for the threat of arming themselves and making the country ungovernable, I think I will treat it with the contempt it deserves,” the Attorney-General stated.

“But as far as this government is concerned, I want to reiterate that we will respect the rights and freedoms of every Ghanaian,” he added.

Dr Ayine’s strongest defence centred on the ORAL initiative, one of the flagship anti-corruption programmes introduced under the administration of to investigate, prosecute, and recover state funds allegedly lost through corruption and financial mismanagement.

The Attorney-General rejected claims by critics that recent prosecutions and legal actions were intended to divert public attention from what some opposition figures describe as the failure of the ORAL programme.

“You know, it’s very interesting when statements like that are being made that we are doing this because ORAL is failing. ORAL is not failing,” Dr Ayine declared.

He argued that his office had achieved unprecedented results in corruption-related prosecutions within a relatively short period.

“Go back and check the record. I am the first Attorney-General in the history of the Fourth Republic to have brought five corruption cases in one year. Go back and check the records,” he stated.

According to Dr Ayine, ongoing court proceedings involving former public officials and politically exposed persons were creating growing anxiety within sections of the opposition because of the strength of the evidence gathered by prosecutors.

“What is happening in court now is rather putting pressure on them because they know that I have been so diligent in my investigations. I have been so diligent in the prosecutions that they are afraid that their people will go down for the acts of corruption that they are engaging in,” he said.

The Attorney-General further insisted that the government remained fully committed to the ORAL agenda and dismissed suggestions that the administration was shifting focus away from the anti-corruption campaign.

“And so, the accusation that we are shifting focus away from ORAL is not something that I will pay heed to because ORAL is on track and ORAL is going to succeed,” Dr Ayine stressed.

The ORAL initiative has become one of the most debated political and governance programmes in Ghana, with supporters describing it as a necessary step toward accountability and transparency, while critics argue that it risks being used as a political tool against opponents.