Kissi Agyebeng and Ken Ofori-Atta
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has issued a stern warning to former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta to report to its office in person today, or risk being placed back on the list of wanted persons.
The OSP has also threatened to officially declare Mr. Ofori-Atta a fugitive from justice and begin processes to issue an Interpol Red Notice against him as well as initiate extradition proceedings in any jurisdiction in which he may be found.
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 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 and 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 Developments 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 and payments out of and utilisations of the tax refund account of GRA”
Wanted
Mr. Ofori-Atta was declared wanted and a fugitive from justice following what the Special Prosecutor described as the former minister’s unwillingness or failure to honour an in-person invitation to the Office.
In the midst of uncertainties and what could be seen as mistrust between the two parties, the Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, provided some clarity to the issue, revealing that the former minister is expected to return to Ghana in May 2025.
Suit
The OSP later removed Mr. Ofori-Atta from the list of persons declared wanted by the Office.
It followed an agreement between legal representatives of the former minister and the OSP, providing a definite date on which Mr. Ofori-Atta is expected to return to Ghana as well as when he could meet the OSP in-person.
Mr. Ofori-Atta later sued Kissi Agyebeng and the Office for declaring him wanted and a ‘fugitive from justice’ as a result of an ongoing investigation.
The suit, filed before a High Court in Accra, avers that the OSP has no statutory powers to use media briefing to declare a person wanted or fugitive from justice.
It also contends that the OSP has no powers other than what is provided for the police to declare a person wanted, and same cannot be done without leave of the court.
Warning
The OSP, in a statement released yesterday, indicated that Mr. Ofori-Atta is mandatorily required to appear in person before the Office today, June 2, 2025, warning that a failure to do so will result in re-entering his name on the list of wanted persons, and the OSP shall consider him a fugitive from justice.
“The OSP remains unwavering in its commitment to enforcing the law and ensuring that Mr. Ofori-Atta answers for his role as the prime suspect in five ongoing corruption and corruption-related investigations.”
BY Gibril Abdul Razak