Ghana’s NDC Urged to Prioritize ORAL Strategy in Combating State Capture, Says Activist

Youth activist and legal practitioner Oliver Barker-Vormawor has called on Ghana’s National Democratic Congress (NDC) to prioritize its “ORAL” strategy to dismantle systemic corruption and recover state assets allegedly lost to private interests under previous administrations.

In a social media statement, Barker-Vormawor emphasized the complexity of addressing state capture, describing it as a task requiring “talent, dedication, and focus” .

State capture a term referring to the systemic co-opting of public institutions for private gain has long plagued Ghana’s political landscape. Barker-Vormawor argued that the NDC, if elected to power, must move beyond prosecuting minor offenses and instead target the structural mechanisms enabling large-scale corruption. “Unraveling state capture is hard. It needs talent, dedication, and focus. But unravel you must. ORAL is the key. Don’t only chase petty criminals. Tear apart the scheme and scam. Be bold NDC,” he stated . While the specifics of the ORAL strategy remain undefined in public discourse, it appears central to the party’s campaign pledges to restore accountability and reclaim misappropriated resources.

The activist’s remarks come amid heightened public scrutiny over Ghana’s governance challenges, including allegations of illicit financial flows and cronyism during past administrations. Barker-Vormawor’s emphasis on institutional overhauls aligns with broader demands for transparency, particularly as the country grapples with economic instability linked to debt restructuring and inflationary pressures.

Barker-Vormawor’s advocacy reflects a growing recognition of state capture as a critical barrier to Ghana’s development. His focus on systemic reform rather than symbolic prosecutions underscores the need for comprehensive strategies to address entrenched networks of corruption. The ORAL framework, while yet to be fully articulated, could signal a shift toward legal and institutional innovations, such as enhanced audit mechanisms or asset recovery protocols, to dismantle these networks.

Comparatively, global efforts to combat state capture such as South Africa’s post-Zuma judicial inquiries or Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies highlight the importance of political will and multi-stakeholder collaboration. For Ghana, success may hinge on aligning the NDC’s agenda with international best practices while ensuring judicial independence and public oversight.

As the 2028 elections approach, the electorate’s response to such proposals will test the viability of ORAL as both a policy tool and a rallying cry for institutional renewal .

The NDC has not yet detailed how ORAL would operationalize these goals, leaving room for speculation about its potential impact. Nevertheless, Barker-Vormawor’s challenge underscores a pivotal moment in Ghana’s democratic journey: whether its leaders can transition from rhetoric to actionable reforms in the fight against systemic corruption.