The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has re-declared former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta a fugitive for failing to voluntarily submit himself for trial.

During a press briefing on June 2, 2025, the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, stated that Ofori-Atta’s conduct demonstrated a lack of cooperation with the ongoing investigation.

Despite repeated invitations, the former minister has refused to appear before the OSP, with his legal team requesting extensions citing medical reasons.

However, the OSP dismissed the medical justification, noting that the submitted doctor’s letter lacked a detailed medical report confirming his inability to attend.

“He has not produced a single medical report except that five-line document,” Agyebeng said.

The OSP accused Ofori-Atta of acting in bad faith, emphasizing that suspects cannot dictate the terms of an investigation.

“A suspect does not pick and choose how an investigative authority conducts its work,” Agyebeng stated.

The OSP has now re-entered Ofori-Atta’s name on its wanted list and initiated processes for an Interpol Red Notice to secure his arrest and extradition.

“We will no longer accommodate him. His conduct is unacceptable and a blatant disregard for law enforcement,” Agyebeng declared.

Background

Ken Ofori-Atta is currently under investigation for five major issues during his tenure.

This includes the contractual arrangements related to petroleum and minerals revenue assurance between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

Also, the termination of a contract between the Electricity Company of Ghana and Beijing Xiao Cheng Technology (BXC), procurement procedures and financial transactions linked to the National Cathedral project, a Ministry of Health contract for the purchase and maintenance of 307 ambulances with Service Ghana Auto Group Limited.

It also entails the handling and disbursement of funds from the Tax P-Fund Account of the GRA.

In January 2025, the OSP formally notified Ken Ofori-Atta that he should appear in person on February 10, 2025.

His lawyers informed the OSP that he was abroad indefinitely for medical reasons and offered to represent him in his absence.

The OSP rejected the claim of indefinite absence and demanded a firm return date, warning of legal consequences if he failed to comply. It also reminded that legal representatives cannot respond to criminal charges on behalf of clients.

On February 10, 2025, his lawyers submitted a doctor’s note stating he was undergoing tests and possibly surgery, with no clear return date.

Two days later, the OSP declared Ken Ofori-Atta a fugitive from justice and acted on an arrest warrant.

On February 18, 2025, Ken Ofori-Atta appealed to the OSP to remove his name from the wanted list and provided a definite return date in May 2025.

The OSP accepted his assurance and subsequently took his name off the list.

In March 2025, the former Minister of Finance filed a lawsuit against the Special Prosecutor, seeking compensation for what he described as an unlawful declaration of him as wanted and requested the removal of related publications from the OSP’s social media channels.

The High Court in Accra (Human Rights Court) heard an interim application on March 28, 2025, in which Ken Ofori-Atta sought to bar the OSP from declaring him wanted again.

Following these legal proceedings, the OSP gave a final deadline of June 2, 2025, for Ken Ofori-Atta to report in person to its headquarters.



ID/AE