Ken Ofori-Atta
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) is still yet to serve former Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta and his Chef de Cabinet, Ernest Darko Akore with the charge sheet and documents pertaining to the criminal proceedings initiated against them for their alleged role in the loss of over GH¢1.4 billion to the state through the revenue assurance contract awarded by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to the Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML).
Adelaide Kobiri-Woode, a Principal Prosecutor at the OSP, told the trial court yesterday that the two accused persons who are currently in the United States have not been served with the charge sheet and the fact sheet.
According to her, the processes to do so are still ongoing and the last communication between the OSP and Office of the Attorney General as of March 25, 2026 indicated that the process has not been completed.
She added that the United States Department of Justice requested for further information through the mutual legal assistance which has been given.
She, therefore, prayed for an adjournment since the OSP has not been able to file all of its disclosures and witness statements for the conduct of case management.
The defence lawyers were not happy with the outcome of event and expressed concerns about the inconvenience the adjournments are causing to the other accused persons.
They even suggested that the court should discharge the accused and whenever the OSP is ready to prosecute the case, they will avail themselves.
“They are all retirees and I pray the court to discharge them so that it will alleviate the financial burdens as a result of numerous attendances in court. Either they are discharged or extend adjournment in the circumstances,” Addo Atuah, one of the defence lawyers added.
Madam Kobiri-Woode opposed the prayer for the accused to be discharged and rather supported the possibility of a longer adjournment.
Justice Francis Achibonga noted that the prosecution has taken steps to ensure Mr. Ofori-Atta and Akore are served with criminal summons, adding that the decision to proceed with the case in their absence is at the discretion of the prosecution.
These circumstances, he held, do not amount to the court discharging the other accused persons.
He subsequently adjourned the trial to April 23 for case management.
Charges
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has charged former Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta and two former Commissioners-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) as well as officials of Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML), over the controversial revenue assurance contract awarded to the private company, costing the nation over GH¢1.4 billion in “financial loss.”
The other accused persons are Ernest Darko Akore, Chef de Cabinet of Ofori-Atta; Emmanuel Kofi Nti, Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, all former Commissioners-General of GRA; Isaac Crentsil, Kwadwo Damoah, all former Commissioners of Customs Division of GRA; Evans Adusei, Chief Executive Officer of SML and the company itself.
Together, they are facing a total of 78 counts of offences, including causing financial loss to the state, corruption and related offences, using public office for profit and attempt to commit criminal offence of influencing the procurement process to obtain an unfair advantage in the award of procurement contract.
The OSP has so far filed two witness statements which have been served on the accused persons.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak