Ken Ofori-Atta and Kissi Agyebeng
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has re-entered the name of former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta on the list of wanted persons and declared him a fugitive from justice in relation to an ongoing investigation into corruption and corruption-related offences.
Speaking at press conference yesterday, the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng indicated that the OSP has also triggered processes for the issuance of an Interpol Red Notice of the location and provisional arrest of Mr. Ofori-Atta in whichever jurisdiction.
Again, the OSP has dispatched a request for extradition processes to be instituted for the provisional apprehension of Mr. Ofori-Atta in any jurisdiction he may be located or found, and his extradition to Ghana.
The Special Prosecutor further indicated that his office will initiate criminal proceedings against Mr. Ofori-Atta whether in absentia or otherwise.
“The principle upon which we proceed is that no person, regardless of title, regardless of status, regardless of medical condition is beyond the reach of enquiry by the OSP,” Mr. Agyebeng added.
The decision to re-enter Mr. Ofori-Atta’s name on the wanted list and declare him a fugitive is as a result of his failure to meet the June 2, 2025 deadline on him to return to Ghana and honour an invitation extended to him by the OSP, which is investigating him for corruption and corruption-related offences.
Although his lawyers have written to the OSP asking for a virtual interrogation as a result of a change in his medical conditions, the OSP has rejected the request, indicating that the former minister has failed to provide any medical report which suggests that “he is a travel risk and unable to return to the jurisdiction by reason of his medical condition.”
Mr. Agyebeng pointed that his office has indicated to the former minister that if the OSP was amenable to taking his statement in absentia, it would have done so in February instead of waiting till June 2, 2025 for him to attend in person.
“We want him here physically and we insist on that,” Mr. Agyebeng stated, and further pointed out that a suspect in a criminal investigation does not pick and choose how the investigative authority should conduct its investigations and the methods suitable to him at his convenience.
“The OSP views Mr. Ofori-Atta’s lawyer’s letter as an expression of utter bad faith on the part of Mr. Ofori-Atta and confirms our long held, well-considered opinion and conclusion that Mr. Ofori-Atta has no intension of voluntarily returning to the jurisdiction and to attend the OSP,” Mr. Agyebeng indicated at the press conference.
He further noted that his office is unaware of Mr. Ofori-Atta’s purported information to the court, whether orally or by filed processes of the alleged change in his circumstances.
“Mr. Ofori-Atta’s conduct is totally unacceptable and baleful spite at law enforcement and criminal investigations,” he added.
Initial Declaration
On February 12, 2025, the OSP declared Mr. Ofori-Atta wanted over allegations of corruption and corruption-related offences.
The office says it is investigating the former minister in five high-profile cases, including the contractual arrangements between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) for the stated objective of the enhancement of revenue assurance in the downstream petroleum sector, upstream petroleum production and minerals and metals resources value chain.
It is also investigating him for the termination of a distribution loss reduction and associated network improvement project contract between the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Beijing Technology (BXC).
Again, the OSP says it is investigating Mr. Ofori-Atta for the procurement of contractors and materials and activities as well as payments in respect of the National Cathedral project.
The fourth case has to do with “activities and payments in respect of a contract awarded by the Ministry of Health initially commenced by the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives to service Ghana Auto Group Limited for purchases and after sales service and maintenance of 307 Mercedes Benz sprinter ambulances for the National Ambulance Service.”
The OSP is also investigating him for payments out of and utilisation of the tax refund account of GRA.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak