President Mahama Launches “Operation Recover All Loot” as Former Akufo-Addo Officials Face Arrests Over Corruption
Since President John Dramani Mahama was sworn into office in January 2025, his administration has launched a sweeping anti-corruption initiative dubbed “Operation Recover All Loot.” The campaign, aimed at exposing and prosecuting high-level financial crimes under the previous government, has already led to the arrest and investigation of several prominent former appointees under the Nana Akufo-Addo administration.
One of the most notable arrests is that of Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, the former Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). He was arrested on June 24, 2025, over his alleged role in the controversial Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) contract, which reportedly cost the Ghanaian state over $500 million. The case, according to GhanaWeb, is currently under investigation by state prosecutors.
Another key figure in the corruption probe is Abdul Hannan Wahab, former CEO of the National Food Buffer Stock Company. He was picked up on June 25, 2025, for alleged financial mismanagement and money laundering. The Daily Graphic reports that Wahab was granted bail with a GH¢80 million bond, pending further investigations.
Also under scrutiny is Maxwell Kofi Jumah, former Managing Director of GIHOC Distilleries. In May 2025, his home was raided by National Security officers over allegations that he sold government vehicles at questionable prices. This investigation was confirmed by Citi News, which reported that Jumah is being thoroughly interrogated by the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO).
Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, who served as a former Minister of Education and later as Board Chairman of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund, was arrested on February 23, 2025. His arrest stems from his involvement in the failed Accra Sky Train project, which cost the state millions without a single rail laid, as reported by GhanaWeb.
In the same vein, the National Service Authority has become a focal point for the anti-corruption drive. Kwaku Ohene Gyan, also known as Osonoba and a former Deputy Director of Operations at the NSA, was arrested on February 22, 2025, in connection with a payroll fraud scheme involving ghost names. The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) reports that several ghost workers were uncovered on the payroll.
His colleague, Gifty Oware-Mensah, who served as Deputy Executive Director at the NSA, was also arrested on March 7, 2025, for her alleged role in the same scandal. According to Joy News, she is believed to have signed off on documents that enabled the fraudulent payments to persist for months.
The crackdown extended to the controversial National Cathedral Project, as Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng, former Secretary to the National Cathedral Board of Trustees, was arrested on March 14, 2025. He is facing charges related to financial misconduct and embezzlement involving funds allocated for the cathedral’s construction, a story broken by Citi News.
Another high-profile arrest is that of Kwabena Adu-Boahene, the former Director-General of the National Signals Bureau. On March 19, 2025, he was arrested at Kotoka International Airport and is being investigated for a wide range of offenses, including money laundering and large-scale financial fraud, according to Daily Graphic sources.
Lastly, Osei Assibey Antwi, the former Executive Director of the National Service Authority, was picked up on March 20, 2025, by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB). Reports by GhanaWeb indicate that he is being questioned for his role in the ghost names payroll scandal that rocked the NSA.
President Mahama’s “Operation Recover All Loot” appears to be setting a strong precedent for accountability and transparency in governance. As investigations deepen and prosecutions begin, many Ghanaians are watching closely to see whether this marks a turning point in the country’s long battle against high-level corruption.
