President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has confirmed that the operations of the newly formed team to prepare grounds for his Operations Recover All Loot (ORAL) agenda will come at no cost to the state.
John Mahama said the team’s activities will not burden the coffers of the state as the members will not draw any salary, allowances, or coupons, among others.
The president-elect who was speaking to the High Commissioner of Canada to Ghana and the entourage who paid a courtesy call on him today revealed that the work of the team members is purely voluntary in nature marking their contribution towards ensuring accountability.
This confirmation from the president-elect comes following an earlier announcement by the chairman of the team, Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa that after the first meeting yesterday, they all have resolved not to receive any payment from the state for their work.
“We shall not be receiving salaries, allowances, per-diems, or fuel coupons. None of our activities will come at a cost to the taxpayer,” the MP announced.
Mr. Mahama also today affirmed that the team will operate pro bono without a budget or expenditure earmarked for their operations.
“They are all doing that service pro bono. They are not expecting any payment. There’s no expenditure or budget associated with the task that they are carrying out,” the President-elect affirmed.
The incoming president’s assurance that the team will operate pro bono comes at a critical moment for Ghana, where public sector corruption has drained resources and hindered economic growth. According to Transparency International, corruption costs the nation billions annually, diverting funds away from vital sectors like education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
By opting for a volunteer-driven initiative, Mahama has demonstrated his administration’s intent to prioritize fiscal discipline while addressing corruption.
