Calls for Reinvestment of Recovered Funds into Anti-Graft Agencies
The Legal Green Association (LGA), a group of professional law students, has proposed sweeping reforms to strengthen the nation’s anti-corruption framework. These include a statutory 12-month cap on corruption and economic crime trials, as well as a reinvestment of recovered public funds into key investigative and prosecutorial agencies.
The proposals are part of the Association’s recommendations to ensure the success of Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL), the new national initiative aimed at retrieving misappropriated state assets and restoring public confidence in governance.
Addressing Systemic Delays in Justice
The LGA’s statement follows recent confirmation by the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, that a Public Tribunal Bill has been submitted to Cabinet and will soon be presented to Parliament to operationalise the Regional Tribunals established under the 1992 Constitution.
According to the Association, the introduction of time-bound trials would help tackle one of the biggest weaknesses in Ghana’s justice system: the lengthy duration of corruption and financial crime cases.
“Prolonged trials erode public confidence and embolden offenders. Swift justice restores deterrence and faith in the system,” the statement said.
Under the proposed reform, all corruption and economic crime cases would be concluded within a 12-month statutory timeframe, either through amendment of existing laws or by judicial policy direction.
The LGA believes such reform would reduce systemic delays, ensure accountability, and demonstrate government’s seriousness in combating corruption.
Reinforcing Anti-Corruption Institutions
Equally significant is the Association’s recommendation that a fixed percentage of funds recovered under ORAL be reinvested directly into anti-graft institutions such as the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), the Attorney-General’s Department, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), and the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB).
“This approach ensures that justice is sustainably financed,” the statement noted, adding that the success of anti-corruption campaigns depends on strong and independent institutions equipped with adequate technical and financial resources.
The LGA argued that recycling a portion of recovered assets into these bodies would enhance their operational independence, investigative reach, and prosecutorial strength.
Reviving the Regional Tribunal
The Association also endorsed the revival of the Regional Tribunal, describing it as a constitutionally valid arm of the nation’s judicial system with concurrent jurisdiction with the High Court in matters relating to serious economic offences, loss of state funds, and abuse of public office.
It said the tribunal, when revived, would serve as the principal court for trying ORAL-related cases swiftly and credibly.
In its statement, signed by Festus Matey, the LGA stressed that corruption remains one of the most significant obstacles to national development, eroding public trust and diverting resources away from essential services.
Urging Bold Leadership and Public Engagement
The group urged the Executive and Legislature to demonstrate “bold and coordinated leadership” in implementing these reforms to protect public wealth and rebuild institutional credibility.
“The time has come for the Republic to match words with action. Justice cannot thrive in silos; corruption is networked and must be fought through cooperation,” the statement read.
The LGA further appealed to civil society and the media to sustain public pressure for accountability, insisting that the success of ORAL would depend not only on laws and courts but also on sustained national vigilance.
“If ORAL fails, Ghana fails… It is the Republic’s last chance to redeem the integrity of governance and restore the faith of the people in the justice system,” the statement added.