Former finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has warned that former finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta will be placed on the wanted list once again if he fails to appear before the OSP for questioning on June 2, 2025.
In a statement acknowledging a lawsuit filed by Ken Ofori-Atta challenging the OSP’s earlier declaration that he was a fugitive from justice, the OSP clarified that it had removed his name from its wanted list in good faith after receiving a request from him.
“Mr. Ofori-Atta formally requested the OSP to remove his name from the OSP’s list of wanted persons with the assurance that he would make himself available for questioning on a definite date.
“The OSP, in good faith and on the basis of Mr. Ofori-Atta’s assurance, granted his request and removed his name from the OSP’s list of wanted persons pending his personal attendance at the OSP on the agreed date,” it noted.
According to the statement, it is a mandatory requirement for Ofori-Atta to appear in person before the OSP on June 2, 2025. The OSP warned that failure to do so would result in his re-listing as a wanted person and his classification as a fugitive from justice.
“If Mr. Ofori-Atta fails to appear before the OSP on the scheduled date, he shall be re-entered on the OSP’s list of wanted persons. The OSP shall consider him a fugitive from justice, whereupon it will initiate an Interpol Red Notice in his regard and commence extradition proceedings in any jurisdiction where he may be found.”
Ken Ofori-Atta has sued the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, for declaring him wanted.
Ofori-Atta filed a lawsuit at the Accra High Court, accusing the Special Prosecutor of illegally declaring him wanted and violating his human rights.
The report indicated that the former minister is seeking, among other things, compensation for the violation of his rights and damages caused by the announcement.
Ken Ofori-Atta’s lawyers have argued that the wanted declaration has caused him irreparable reputational harm and distress. They have asked the court to rule that the Special Prosecutor’s actions breached his rights to dignity, fair treatment, and administrative justice.
Background:
At a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng stated that all indications suggested Ofori-Atta had absconded from Ghana to evade investigations into alleged corruption.
He subsequently declared Ken Ofori-Atta a fugitive, wanted for corruption and related offences.
However, six days later, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) removed the former finance minister from its list of wanted persons following communication from his legal team confirming his voluntary return to Ghana.
On Tuesday, February 18, 2025, Ken Ofori-Atta’s lawyers informed the OSP of a definite date for his return to the country.
In response, the OSP deemed the stated return date reasonable and rescheduled his attendance accordingly.
As a result, Ken Ofori-Atta was removed from the OSP’s wanted list and is no longer considered a fugitive, pending his return on the agreed date.
The former finance minister is under investigation regarding contractual arrangements between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) for revenue assurance in the petroleum and minerals sectors.
Another investigation concerns the termination of a contract between the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Beijing Technology Limited for distribution loss reduction and network improvement.
Additionally, he is being investigated over procurement, payments, and activities related to the controversial National Cathedral project.
Furthermore, he has been linked to contracts awarded by the Ministry of Health, initially through the Ministry for Special Development Initiatives, to Service Ghana Auto Group Limited for the purchase and maintenance of 307 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 305 CDI ambulances for the National Ambulance Service.
The OSP is also examining payments made from and the utilization of the Ghana Revenue Authority’s tax refund account.
AM/MA
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