A former National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Freddie Blay, has criticised the ruling government's anti-corruption initiative, Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL), describing it as a ‘gimmick’.

Addressing accusations of land grabbing allegedly involving members of his family, Blay stated that the narrative was crafted to make it appear as though he had exploited his political position to acquire state lands.

According to him, although the matter is currently before the courts, they came to realise that the entire ORAL ‘noise’ involving his family amounted to nothing.

“I'm not happy with the way people’s houses were being invaded. They refused them bail, dragging some people from offices. I thought it was very unfair and some of us even had to be victims because we were talking about ORAL, which was a gimmick.

“At the end of the day, we realised that it was only blowing hot and cold air. There was nothing and the matter is in court. They made it look like I, Freddie Blay, used my position to go and twist the arm of the hotel,” he said in an interview on JoyNews on July 17, 2025.

When asked whether he or any of his relatives had been invited or investigated by law enforcement authorities in connection with the ORAL investigations, he stated that the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) had invited his son once, but it led to nothing.

“There hasn't been any subject of investigation. The only thing is that it's in court over the parking lot that is at the other side which the hotel says is their property. And we said no because the Ga Traditional Council gave it to us, gave it to my children. We are discussing over it in court,” he explained.

He added, “NIB did [invited us] once and I went there with my son and another lawyer but they didn't allow me to go there. That was the only contact, nothing more but they made too much noise about this particularly, Okudzeto. Now, he is a minister and I don’t want to say too many things. He says I should not have a property in Accra when he has the property in the choiciest place in Accra and he says he's rented it.”

Background

The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, shared details regarding the sale of some shares of SSNIT in some hotels in the country, particularly the Labadi Beach Hotel in June 2024.

In the MP’s account, he revealed information allegedly linking Freddie Blay and his son to ownership of the hotel, stating that Blay’s son now claims to own the beachfront portion of Labadi Beach Hotel.

MAG/AE

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