The Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu and Chairman of the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) team, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced that the team has gathered substantial evidence of suspected looted state assets by appointees of the previous administration.

According to Ablakwa, the collected evidence would soon be presented to President John Dramani Mahama for further action.

Speaking at a thanksgiving service at Akosombo for Thomas Ampem Nyarko, the MP for Asuogyaman in the Eastern Region, Mr Ablakwa explained that ORAL was not a nine-day wonder which would end any time soon.

He said what the five-member team was doing was preparatory to gather evidence and that the second phase would be the prosecutions and retrieval of looted state funds, property and assets.

“The work will continue. It will be a permanent feature. We have gathered so much evidence of incidents of state capture and looting among others. These would be presented to the President who will in turn instruct the Attorney-General to take the appropriate actions,” he told the  Daily Graphic later.

Prosecutions important

The North Tongu MP said the nature of the cases might trigger the involvement of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

“We are keen on gathering the necessary evidence to facilitate successful prosecutions and punishments which must serve as a deterrent to all politicians, including those serving in government,” Mr Ablakwa said.

He alluded to some investigative work he had done as well as those by the former Auditor-General, Daniel Yaw Domelevo, which would all come in handy.

Mr Ablakwa expressed confidence in the team’s progress, describing their work as successful and affirming their commitment to holding those responsible accountable, saying the most important things are the retrievals.

During the transition period, President-elect John Dramani Mahama appointed Mr Ablakwa, alongside retired Commissioner of Police Nathan Kofi Boakye, lawyer Martin Kpebu, investigative journalist and publisher, Raymond Archer, and Mr Domelevo to compile evidence of state capture and asset looting and misappropriation.

We’ll not disappoint

Speaking at the rally, the Asuogyaman MP thanked the leadership, the rank and file of the party as well as the chiefs and the clergy for his successful retention of the seat for the National Democratic Congress and the prevailing peace.

Mr Nyarko appealed to all persons and groups who did not associate with the party to close ranks for the total development of Asuogyaman.

He assured the people to trust in the leadership of President Mahama, who did not need to learn the ropes but would hit the ground running to resolve their challenges.

“It was a great strong wind that returned the NDC to power and it is my plea that with the same trust you have in us, you support the party to deliver on its mandate to serve the people of Ghana, Mr Nyarko said, adding “We will not disappoint you.”

The MP said the Akosombo-Gyakiti road, Anum Boso Asikuma road, Apeguso to Mpakadan road and so on, would be lobbied for and fixed.