Full List of Scandals Under Investigation by Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL)

President-elect John Dramani Mahama’s Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) has taken center stage in Ghana’s fight against corruption. The initiative, a key part of Mahama’s anti-corruption agenda, aims to investigate, recover, and prosecute individuals and entities involved in the misappropriation of state resources. Below is a comprehensive list of high-profile scandals currently under investigation by ORAL:

1. US$58 Million National Cathedral Scandal

• Details: Over GHS339 million was spent on questionable consultancy services and government contributions for the National Cathedral project. Sir David Adjaye, the lead architect, received GHS113 million, raising concerns about financial mismanagement and opacity.
• Key Issues: Lack of transparency, inflated costs, and dubious payments.

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2. US$108 Million Ambulance Scandal

• Details: A dubious transaction involving the procurement of spare parts for 307 ambulances at an inflated cost of US$113,695 per ambulance, far exceeding the market value of fully equipped ambulances.
• Key Issues: Overpricing, lack of competitive bidding, and potential corruption.

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3. US$2.8 Million Sputnik V Vaccine Scandal

• Details: An attempt to procure vaccines at inflated prices, with reports showing a cost of $19 per dose instead of the expected $10. The vaccines were never delivered, and intermediaries like Sheik Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum were involved.
• Key Issues: Inflated prices, lack of parliamentary oversight, and potential corruption.

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4. US$130 Million Frontiers COVID Testing Scandal

• Details: Frontiers, a private company, was awarded a contract without competitive bidding to conduct COVID-19 tests at $150 per test, while the government received only $10 per test. The company earned over US$130 million.
• Key Issues: Violation of procurement laws, lack of transparency, and exploitation of public health funds.

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5. US$222.7 Million Bank of Ghana Corporate Office Scandal

• Details: Allegations of financial mismanagement and inflated costs in the construction of the Bank of Ghana’s new headquarters.
• Key Issues: Misuse of public funds and lack of accountability.

6. US$11.9 Million Pwalugu Dam Scandal

• Details: US$11.9 million was paid to Messrs Power Construction Corporation of China (POWERCHINA) for the Pwalugu Multi-Purpose Dam project, despite no work being done.
• Key Issues: Single-sourced contract, inflated costs, and lack of progress.

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7. US$48 Million 13th African Games Scandal

• Details: Despite Parliament approving only GHS100 million, the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) requested an additional US$48 million (GHS602 million) for operational expenses. This is separate from the US$195 million already spent on infrastructure.
• Key Issues: Unjustified expenditure, lack of parliamentary approval, and potential mismanagement.

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8. US$3 Billion SML Scam

• Details: Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) was awarded a US$100 million annual contract over ten years without proper procurement procedures or parliamentary approval. A KPMG audit revealed irregularities in SML’s monitoring systems.
• Key Issues: Lack of transparency, ineffective systems, and potential corruption.

9. GHS80 Billion Illegal Money Printing by Bank of Ghana

• Details: Between 2021 and 2022, the Bank of Ghana printed over GHS80 billion to finance government expenditure without parliamentary approval, exceeding the legal limit of 5% of the previous year’s revenue.
• Key Issues: Breach of fiscal responsibility laws and misuse of central bank resources.

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10. US$190 Million PDS Scandal

• Details: The government terminated its concession agreement with Power Distribution Services (PDS) due to breaches in payment security provisions. Over GHS1 billion in revenue collected by PDS remains unaccounted for, and a US$190 million Millennium Challenge Corporation grant was forfeited.
• Key Issues: Financial mismanagement, lack of accountability, and potential political interference.

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11. US$12 Million Agyapa Royalties Scandal

• Details: US$12 million was spent on processes to issue the initial public offering of Agyapa Royalties Ltd. on the London Stock Exchange, even after the deal fell through. The deal faced criticism for lack of transparency and potential undervaluation of assets.
• Key Issues: Misuse of public funds and lack of accountability.

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12. US$24 Million Pullman Hotel Tax Waiver

• Details: President Akufo-Addo granted tax waivers totaling approximately US$24 million to a hotel project linked to his brother-in-law, Dr. Kwame Nyantakyi Owusu.
• Key Issues: Nepotism and misuse of public resources.

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13. US$2 Million Failed Skytrain Project

• Details: The Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) invested $2 million in a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) established in Mauritius to launch sky trains in Accra. The project was suspended indefinitely, raising concerns about due diligence and loss of public funds.
• Key Issues: Poor investment decisions and lack of accountability.

14. US$36 Million COVID-19 Smart Workplace Project

• Details: The government spent US$36 million on a Smart Workplace Project aimed at enabling virtual work during the pandemic. The project was approved by the Cabinet for only US$8 million, raising questions about procurement irregularities.
• Key Issues: Inflated costs and lack of transparency.

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15. US$8.5 Million Black Stars AFCON Budget Scandal

• Details: The government allocated US$8.5 million for the national football team’s participation in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) without parliamentary approval.
• Key Issues: Misuse of public funds and lack of oversight.

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16. US$4.5 Billion National Service Payroll Scam

• Details: Over 200,000 fictitious names were included on the National Service Secretariat’s payroll between 2020 and 2024, resulting in an estimated loss of GHS68.64 billion (US$4.5 billion).
• Key Issues: Ghost names, payroll fraud, and financial mismanagement.

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17. GHS2.6 Billion Health Sector Digitalization Scandal

• Details: Dubious and duplicative digitalization contracts were awarded without proper procurement processes, including a GHS245 million contract to Spectrum Fibre Limited, a company linked to Vice President Bawumia’s associate.
• Key Issues: Conflict of interest and wasteful expenditure.

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18. State Capture and Land Grabs

• Details: Multiple cases of state capture, including land grabs by politically exposed persons such as President Akufo-Addo’s daughter, niece, and other government appointees. Prime lands were acquired at below-market prices, raising suspicions of corruption within the Lands Commission.
• Key Issues: Abuse of power, lack of transparency, and exploitation of public resources.

The scandals under investigation by ORAL highlight the pervasive nature of corruption in Ghana’s public sector. President Mahama’s commitment to recovering stolen state resources and prosecuting offenders is a crucial step towards restoring public trust and ensuring accountability. As ORAL progresses, Ghanaians will be watching closely to see if justice is served and stolen funds are returned to the national coffers.

For God and Country, Ghana First!

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Stay tuned for updates on the progress of ORAL and the fight against corruption in Ghana.