Human rights activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor has expressed concern about the public and highly visual nature of the Operation Recover All Loots (ORAL) initiative, cautioning that such an approach risks undermining its credibility.
In an interview on JoyNews’ The Law, he emphasized the importance of discretion in the initiative’s operations to build public trust and support.
“I am a bit dismayed about the cameras following people around. It screams gimmick, and I’m worried about that, to be fair,” Barker-Vormawor said on Sunday, January 19.
The activist argued that ORAL should avoid sensationalism and instead focus on discreet operations to enhance its credibility and garner broader public support. He underscored the need for thorough verification of reports about misappropriated assets through proper screening processes, rather than public spectacles.
“When a complaint has been made to any individual acting on behalf of the President, I think there has to be a level of sorting out and screening. If they want to verify claims, like reports of public land being taken over by individuals, they can send someone to confirm it or move together as a committee. That is fair enough,” he explained.
Barker-Vormawor also stressed the importance of securing support from credible institutions and civil society organizations to lend legitimacy to ORAL. He urged the initiative’s handlers to focus on building partnerships with these groups to ensure transparency and accountability.
“We ought to be mindful of the signaling. Public support for this initiative must come from established institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs), the media, and the broader population. If this turns into a gimmick, we will lose the credibility needed to make the process work,” he warned.
While acknowledging the necessity of verifying claims and screening reports, he reiterated that such processes should be conducted professionally and without unnecessary public spectacle.