Former Member of Parliament for Akim Abuakwa South and seasoned legal practitioner, Atta Akyea, has expressed strong reservations about the legality of the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) committee formed under President John Dramani Mahama’s administration.
Speaking on the controversial initiative on Newsfile on JoyNews, he labelled it as “unlawful” and “populist,” urging the government to reconsider its approach.
“It is very unlawful, it is populist, and we shouldn’t go down that path,” Atta Akyea stated firmly during a recent discussion.
He argued that such a committee operates outside the boundaries of the law, undermining the principles of due process and accountability that should guide governance.
Expanding on his critique, Atta Akyea highlighted the role of whistleblowers in governance, emphasizing that their function is to discreetly provide credible information for investigation and subsequent action by the appropriate authorities.
“A whistleblower is typically a low-profile individual who strategically provides sensitive information to the appropriate body for them to investigate and take action,” he explained, contrasting this with the tactics allegedly employed by the ORAL committee.
The legal practitioner questioned the method of gathering evidence by the committee, particularly the use of cameras and public exposure, which he described as unprofessional and legally dubious. “Why don’t you gather information discreetly?
“Whatever they are doing, they should do it in accordance with the law and stop going around with cameras,” he asserted.