Ken Ofori-Atta
The International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) has permanently deleted a Red Notice issued against Ghana’s former Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, at the instance of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) which is investigating him for alleged corruption and related offences.
This follows the conclusion by the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files (CCF) that the Red Notice issued against Mr. Ofori-Atta “appears of a predominantly political character” and is non-compliant with INTERPOL’s rules, and shall be deleted from INTERPOL’s files permanently.
“After a thorough examination of the elements before it, the commission found that the challenged data registered by the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) of Ghana were not compliant with INTERPOL’s rules and decided that they should be deleted from the INTERPOL information system,” INTERPOL determination issued on February 13, 2026, pointed out.
The permanent deletion of the INTERPOL Red Notice against Mr. Ofori-Atta was communicated to the public by a statement signed by his lawyer, Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo.
This was later confirmed by the Office of the Special Prosecutor, which indicated that the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files directed the deletion of the notice under INTERPOL’s rules on political neutrality and notice processing, citing contextual factors at the time of issuance.
This, the Commission said, included “polarised political statements from members of current and former administrations about the conduct of the investigation.”
Another factor is the public controversy surrounding prosecutorial and extradition processes, including public acknowledgment by senior officials at the Ministry of Justice of an inability, at the time, to pursue extradition due to the early procedural stage of the case.
The Commission further observed that subsequent developments made the notice unnecessary, as Mr. Ofori-Atta’s location was known, cooperation with U.S. authorities was ongoing, and extradition processes had already been initiated following his arrest in the United States on January 6, 2026.
Meanwhile, the OSP has indicated that summons issued by the Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra have been transmitted for service in the United States, requiring his appearance to answer multiple criminal charges.
“Efforts to secure his appearance continue through established legal and diplomatic channels. The OSP reiterates that it remains guided solely by law and evidence, and is committed to due process and the fair, lawful, and impartial prosecution of corruption and corruption-related offences,” the OSP added.
Earlier Suspension
Mr. Ofori-Atta was placed on the INTERPOL Red Notice in June 2025, following a request by the OSP, which is investigating him for corruption and related offences.
The OSP has already charged him and seven others for allegedly causing financial loss of GH¢1,436,249,828.53 to the state through the revenue assurance contract awarded by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to the Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML).
The INTERPOL notice, which was issued on June 5, 2025, indicated that Mr. Ofori-Atta is wanted on the charge of using public office for profit.
A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action. A Red Notice is not an international arrest warrant.
In October 2025, the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files had temporarily suspended the Red Notice issued against Mr. Ofori-Atta after he applied for the removal of his name from INTERPOL’s Red Notice.
The Commission requested Ghana’s response to Mr. Ofori-Atta’s application, which was subsequently submitted on October 22, 2025.
By communication dated November 7, 2025, the Commission notified Ghanaian authorities that Mr. Ofori-Atta had filed additional arguments in an addendum, and the Commission requested Ghanaian authorities to file their response to Mr. Ofori-Atta’s additional arguments by November 21.
During the pendency of the proceedings, INTERPOL redacted Mr. Ofori-Atta’s name, image and details until the final determination of his petition.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak