Daniel Domelevo, a member of the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) Committee, has challenged critics to seek redress in court if they believe the operations of the anti-corruption taskforce are illegal.
In an interview, the former Auditor General emphasised that ORAL’s activities were lawful as the team focused solely on collecting data to assist the executive.
“Let me be very clear. We are working and being told we are operating illegally. The courts are not closed. They are still there. So, if anyone thinks we are unlawful, they should go to court. “Let the court tell us, ‘Oh, guys, you cannot even collect information when people bring it to you.’ If that happens, we will shut down and go”.
Mr. Domelevo also dismissed claims that the committee was infringing on the jurisdiction of other anti-corruption agencies.
“We are not even inviting anybody,” he emphasised.
“The publication went out from the office of the then president-elect, saying that if you have information, bring it to us via the provided hotlines, website, or email. That’s all we are using. The issue of inviting anyone does not even arise.”
In addressing criticisms of the committee, Mr. Domelevo attributed the backlash to fear and hypocrisy.
“The best form of defence is an attack. Anybody who thinks this may lead to them being exposed will definitely attack,” he noted.
He further highlighted a pattern of inconsistency in how similar initiatives have been perceived in the past.
“In September 2017, the senior minister Yaw Osafo Maafo announced that foreign firms had been engaged to collect data, investigate, and even help with prosecution. Back then, it was fine. But now, a simple team collecting data is a problem. That is the hypocrisy we have in this country,” he further noted in an interview monitored by The Ghana Report on Joy News.
He continued, “Until something is prohibited by law, it’s lawful. Otherwise, one day you will say, ‘Daniel, you are being unlawful by wearing a smock into the studio”.
Mr. Domelevo added that ORAL’s work is entirely voluntary and aimed at supporting the executive in making informed decisions about corruption-related cases.
“We collect data and hand it over to the president. The president may then decide to refer it to the appropriate body—be it EOCO, the police, or the Office of the Special Prosecutor. That’s all we do,” he explained.
“If we are working unlawfully, go to court. Until then, we will continue doing what we are doing—lawfully and transparently,” he concluded.
Mahama’s Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) team is chaired by the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
Other members aside from Daniel Domelevo include COP (Rtd) Kofi Boakye, private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu, and investigative journalist Raymond Archer.