ORAL has been reduced to a tool for political convenience – Kwesi Botchway Jnr

Private legal practitioner Kwesi Botchway Jnr has accused the government of reducing Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) to a political tool for convenience. Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse, Mr Botchway argued that the credibility of ORAL had been undermined by the Attorney General's control over initiation or discontinuation of criminal prosecutions.

He highlighted the selective justice that had arisen from the concentration of prosecutorial powers in the Attorney General's hands. Mr Botchway emphasized that ORAL's effectiveness was intertwined with the constitutional authority of the Attorney General, who could commence or withdraw prosecutions. The lawyer pointed out that this concentration of authority had fueled concerns about the application of ORAL consistently across political affiliations.

He alleged that the Attorney General had initiated prosecutions against the previous administration while withdrawing cases involving individuals linked to the governing political party, leading to a perception of selective prosecution. Mr Botchway rejected claims that NPP members were opposed to accountability, stating that holding public office should entail acceptance of scrutiny and responsibility.

He sought to differentiate opposition to selective prosecution from opposition to accountability itself, emphasizing that the handling of criminal cases had created the impression that individuals affiliated with the governing party were treated differently from opposition figures.