News
Boycott any invitation from ORAL team – Minority to former gov’t officials
The minority in Parliament has called on its members to boycott any invitation extended to them by the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) Committee.
In a press briefing today, January 15, in Parliament, the Suame MP, John Darko, said its operations are unconstitutional and a violation of Ghana’s legal framework.
It was his view that ORAL’s activities overlap with and undermine the functions of established institutions like the Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID), the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), and the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
“no serious country will entertain anything such as this,” he argued.
He further stressed that “Our advice to outgone government officials is clear: boycott any invitation from this so-called ORAL team. We refuse to participate in or recognise its activities because constitutionally established institutions already exist to investigate any alleged misdeeds.”
Consequently, Mr.Darko criticised the Attorney General (AG) nominee, Dr Dominic Ayine for endorsing an entity that undermines the role of constitutionally established bodies.
They also alleged the Oral was going too far, with its operatives engaging in activities that disrupt the lives of private citizens.
“They are going about disturbing people, entering homes, seizing vehicles, and confiscating lands from individuals who have lawfully acquired them. This is nothing short of harassment, and it must stop,” Mr. Darko added.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
President John Dramani Mahama has held a high-level meeting with the Heads of Security Agencies, Minister for the Interior and Acting Minister for Defence on the ongoing security services recruitment process.
Following a briefing on the process, the President has directed that the number of men and women to be recruited to the various security agencies should be increased from twenty-thousand (20,000) to forty thousand (40,000) over a four year period.
The President has also directed the Heads of the Security Agencies to ensure transparency and fairness in the recruitment process.
Present at the meeting were the Chief of Staff, Secretary to the President, Senior Presidential Advisor on Governmental Affairs, National Security Coordinator, Inspector General of Police Director General Prisons, Director General Fire Service, Comptroller-General of the Ghana Immigration Service and the Director General of the Narcotics Control Commission
At the request of the minority leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, officials of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) met with members of the Parliamentary Minority Caucus today.
The engagement afforded the Caucus an opportunity to provide the Fund with feedback on recent economic developments in Ghana.
The discussions were mutually beneficial to both sides as stakeholders in Ghana’s governance.
The IMF delegation was led by Adrian Alter, Resident Representative, accompanied by Mr. Razafimahefa Ivohasina Fizara, Coordinator of AFRITAC West 2 and Mr. Osa Ahinakwah Economist at the IMF Country Office.
Members of the Caucus in attendance were, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, Second Deputy Minority Whip; Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, Ranking Member on Finance; Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Ranking Member on Economy and Development; Kweku Agyeman Kwarteng, Chairman on Budget; Abena Osei-Asare, Chairperson of Public Accounts; and Collins Adomako-Mensah, Deputy Ranking Member on Energy.
Dr. Antoinette Tsiboe-Darko, Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party, also represented the Party.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
