Minority Accuses Mahama of Inciting ‘NDC Thuggery’ with Formation of ORAL Committee
The Minority of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Parliament has accused former President John Dramani Mahama of setting a dangerous precedent by establishing the Operation Recover All Loots (ORAL) Committee.
The Caucus claims that the committee, which was formed even before Mahama took the oath of office, undermines the country’s democratic institutions and threatens the rule of law.
Patricia Appiagyei, Deputy Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Asokwa, raised concerns during a press conference on Thursday, January 9, 2025, arguing that the ORAL Committee is both unconstitutional and illegal.
According to Appiagyei, the committee exceeds the powers granted to a President-elect under the Presidential Transition Act, 2012.
“The creation of the ORAL Committee before President Mahama has even been sworn in shows a complete disregard for the law.
The President has no legal authority to establish such a body at this stage, and doing so sets a dangerous precedent that undermines the rule of law,” she said.
The Minority claims that the committee’s investigative and prosecutorial powers represent an overreach, violating the constitutional framework governing peaceful transitions of power.
The Deputy Minority Leader argued that the formation of the committee has emboldened supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to engage in unlawful behaviour, contributing to an increase in violence and intimidation across the country.
They condemned the escalating violence and intimidation allegedly instigated by NDC supporters, linking these actions to the formation of the ORAL Committee.
Reports of NDC supporters storming government offices and employing confrontational tactics have surfaced, heightening tensions nationwide.
“We have witnessed disturbing incidents in Tema, Koforidua, and other regions, where NDC supporters have seized government offices, locked down public institutions, and even threatened judicial officers. This wave of violence is an attempt to destabilize the country and enforce partisan control of state resources,” Appiagyei said.
In Tema, NDC supporters attempted to seize control of the Tema Port, demanding the removal of non-NDC workers, an act condemned by the NPP as an unconstitutional attempt to take over state institutions.
The situation in Koforidua also escalated as NDC supporters locked up offices of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) manager and surrounded the premises of key agencies such as the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) and the National Service Scheme (NSS).
Some NDC supporters were also reported to have taken over the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) and the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), fuelling further concern.
“What we are witnessing today, in the actions of pro-NDC thugs across the country, is a direct consequence of the illegitimate committee,” Appiagyei emphasized.
The NPP also condemned the targeting of judicial officers, with reports indicating that some judges’ homes have been vandalized, and their families threatened.
“These attacks on the judiciary strike at the heart of our democracy. A judiciary under siege cannot dispense justice or act independently,” she warned.
The Minority called on President Mahama to disband the unlawful ORAL Committee and take immediate action to restore order and uphold the rule of law in the country.
They also stressed that the absence of evidence to support claims of corruption and mismanagement by the previous administration made the acts of violence unjustifiable.
Hon Appiagyei emphasized Ghana is a constitutional democracy, not a revolutionary state, urging the President to halt these unlawful actions and respect the democratic principles that define the nation.
Source: Felix Nyaaba// expressnewsghana.com
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