President John Dramani Mahama has called on Ghanaians to exercise patience with the legal process under the government’s Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative, stressing that thorough investigations are necessary to secure convictions.
Addressing participants at a Presidential Dialogue with Civil Society Organisations at Jubilee House on Monday, March 31, 2026, Mr. Mahama said while there is public pressure for swift action, the rule of law must be respected to ensure justice is properly served.
“We must, if we are true democrats and we believe in our Constitution, have the patience to go through the process,” he stated.
The President explained that building strong cases takes time, noting that rushing investigations could result in poorly prepared prosecutions that may be dismissed in court.
“Better to investigate properly and take a well-prepared case to court than to be moved by public pressure and rush, only for the judge to throw it out,” he said.
Mr. Mahama acknowledged that the Attorney General and Minister for Justice is under significant pressure but must ensure that cases are thoroughly developed before proceeding to court.
“He must build the cases thoroughly so that when he goes to court, he can get a conviction,” he added.
He noted that ORAL was never intended to result in immediate arrests, explaining that each case must go through proper investigation, interrogation, and legal procedures.
“We didn’t deceive ourselves that as soon as we come, we’ll arrest everybody and put them in prison. We knew it would go through the process,” he said.
The President cited ongoing audits, including investigations into the All Africa Games, as examples of processes that take time before any legal action can be initiated.
He further explained that Ghana’s legal system allows for appeals at various levels, which can prolong cases, but remains essential to ensuring fairness and justice.
Mr. Mahama stressed that Ghana must remain committed to constitutional democracy and the rule of law rather than resorting to shortcuts.
“As long as we agree that we will use a rule-based system under the law, we must be patient to let the law take its course,” he said.
He assured the public that government remains committed to holding individuals accountable, both for past actions and any ongoing violations of the law, while respecting due process.
SOURCE: Mubarak Yakubu
