Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Chairman of the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL), an anti-corruption Committee set up by President of Ghana in January 2025, has disclosed on February 10, that the Government has the potential to recover up to $21.19 billion from stolen State assets.
Ablakwa shared that, after reviewing 36 major high-value cases and land-related illicit acquisitions, the Committee has identified a significant opportunity to recoup this substantial sum. He emphasized that these figures far surpass the amounts being sought from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which often come with stringent conditions.
In his statement, Ablakwa highlighted the extensive scope of the operation, pointing out that the identified cases represent a diverse range of stolen assets, with potential recovery amounts surpassing expectations. “The potential to reclaim this amount is a far more promising avenue than the prolonged pursuit of conditional funding from international organisations,” he remarked. His comments shed light on the scale of financial losses the country has faced due to corruption and illicit activities, reinforcing the importance of efforts to recover these assets for the nation.
Ablakwa also expressed gratitude to former President Mahama and his team for initiating the Operation Recover All Loot project, which he described as a vital and effective endeavour. “We are deeply grateful for the leadership shown in launching this initiative, which has proven to be of immense value to Ghana,” he said. Looking ahead, he expressed optimism for the continued success of the project, confident that future efforts will ensure that stolen resources are returned to the national treasury, benefiting the Ghanaian people.