The formation of “Operation To Recover All Loot” (ORAL), tasked with tracing embezzled state funds and recovering looted national assets, together with the renewed strength of the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), has dramatically changed Ghana’s political climate. For the first time in many years, a sitting government is actively arresting and prosecuting political figures involved in financial scandals.

This decisive posture has boosted public confidence in the NDC and positioned the party as the only credible force capable of restoring accountability in Ghana. Across Africa, the promise to fight corruption has become a familiar campaign slogan. Politicians understand its emotional power, yet many abandon the promise once they assume office.

Ghana witnessed this pattern under former president Akufo‑Addo, who campaigned on protecting the public purse and famously declared, “If I fail, sack me.” Ghanaians embraced those words with hope, even though the country was performing better under Mahama. Tribal politics and sweet promises helped hand power to the NPP in 2016.

According to several political observers, the 2016 elections were marred by irregularities, including inflated figures. Yet the combination of tribal loyalty, Jean Mensa’s controversial leadership at the Electoral Commission, and Akufo‑Addo’s carefully crafted public image allowed the NPP’s victory to escape widespread scrutiny. Whether rigged or not, the NPP achieved its goal: removing Mahama and gaining unrestricted access to state resources.

Once in power, the NPP’s true intentions became clear. Ghana witnessed one of the most aggressive periods of state capture in its history. The appointment of Ken Ofori‑Atta, the president’s own cousin, as Finance Minister raised immediate concerns. No nation thrives when its president’s relative controls the national treasury. Under his leadership, Ghana’s economy deteriorated sharply, debt skyrocketed, and public institutions collapsed.

These are among the most widely discussed controversies associated with the NPP administration: The Agyapa Royalties Deal: A controversial attempt to mortgage Ghana’s mineral royalties through opaque offshore arrangements. Civil society groups, legal experts, and even some NPP insiders condemned it as a scheme to benefit a small political elite.

The PDS Scandal: The botched takeover of ECG by Power Distribution Services, later exposed as fraudulent due to forged documents and questionable financial guarantees.

The Cathedral Scandal: Millions of dollars in public funds were diverted into a private religious project without parliamentary approval, involving shell companies and unaccounted payments.

The Kroll Associates Contract — An illegal procurement deal approved by Ofori‑Atta without proper processes, costing the state millions.

The BOST Contaminated Fuel Scandal — Millions lost through questionable fuel sales involving politically connected individuals.

The Ameri Novation Deal — Attempts to inflate costs of an already overpriced energy contract.

The SML Revenue Assurance Contract — A multi‑million dollar contract awarded without due process, later exposed as unnecessary and exploitative.

COCOBOD and GRA Financial Mismanagement — Institutions left bankrupt due to reckless borrowing, inflated contracts, and political interference.

Ken Ofori‑Atta’s Conflict of Interest — His company, Databank, earned massive fees from government bond transactions. After public pressure and parliamentary censure, he left the country for the US under the claim of seeking medical treatment.

The Agyapadie System: How the Constitution Was Ignored

The NPP governed Ghana not through constitutional principles but through an internal doctrine they called Agyapadie, a system where state institutions, natural resources, and public finances were treated as family property.

Under this system, political loyalty determined access to state contracts.

National resources were controlled by a small circle of relatives and associates.

Institutions like COCOBOD, ECG, and GRA were weakened and left bankrupt

Accountability mechanisms were dismantled or politicized.

Two examples illustrate this clearly: Bernard Antwi‑Boasiako (Wontumi) was defended by Akufo‑Addo despite evidence of illegal mining, including operations inside a reserved forest.

Al Jazeera’s “Gold Mafia” documentary raised serious questions about Akufo‑Addo’s connections to gold smuggling networks. Although the presidency denied wrongdoing, the documentary intensified public distrust.

Why The Majority Of Ghanaians Are Now Supporting The NDC

After years of deception, Ghanaians have grown tired of empty promises to fight corruption. The NDC’s current actions, not words, have restored hope. ORAL’s investigations, EOCO’s arrests, and Mahama’s insistence on accountability have convinced many that Ghana finally has a government willing to confront corruption head‑on.

The NPP’s resistance to accountability has backfired. Their attacks on EOCO and attempts to portray investigations as political witch‑hunts have angered the public. Many former NPP supporters are quietly leaving the party, believing it has lost its moral authority.

President Mahama’s governance style, combined with massive development projects and a genuine commitment to transparency, has strengthened public trust. From your political analysis, this shift in national sentiment is likely to significantly influence the 2028 elections, not as a prediction, but as a reflection of current public attitudes.

With Wontumi already jailed and several NPP politicians under investigation, Ghanaians see a clear difference between a government that protects corruption and one that confronts it. Ghana stands at a turning point. After years of state capture, financial mismanagement, and constitutional violations, the country is finally witnessing a government willing to recover stolen assets and restore accountability.

The NDC’s anti‑corruption drive has not only strengthened institutions but also renewed public confidence in leadership. As long as the current government maintains its commitment to transparency and justice, it will continue to earn the trust of Ghanaians who desire a nation built on integrity, not deception.