The family of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has accused Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) of orchestrating a public vendetta, using legal mechanisms and media tactics to tarnish the reputation of the ailing statesman.
In a detailed press release issued on June 9, the family claimed the OSP’s actions were capricious, medically insensitive, and constitutionally unsound.
The statement comes days after the OSP, for the third time, declared Ofori-Atta a “wanted man” during a media briefing on June 2. This declaration, the family argues, blatantly ignores ongoing human rights litigation and the former minister’s documented health crisis, including a confirmed cancer diagnosis.
“Is Mr. Ofori-Atta running?” the family asked rhetorically. “He has made all documents available, offered to do a virtual interview, and promised to return to Ghana by May 30. This is not the conduct of a fugitive.”
The dispute centers on an arrest warrant issued in February under what the family claims were “unusual circumstances.” They allege that the warrant was obtained without a proper affidavit and accuse the OSP of suppressing key evidence in its pursuit of the Red Notice through INTERPOL.
More troubling, according to the family, is the OSP’s refusal to accommodate Ofori-Atta’s medical condition. A biopsy in March revealed a cancer diagnosis, with surgery scheduled for June 13 at the Mayo Clinic. The OSP was notified of this development in late May through both court filings and direct correspondence.
Despite these notices, the OSP rejected a proposal for a video recorded interview (VRI), a solution the family says is both lawful and logistically reasonable. The family also expressed concern that medical evidence and pending court actions were withheld from INTERPOL when applying for the Red Notice — a potential violation of INTERPOL’s own constitutional provisions on human rights and fairness.
“The OSP’s refusal over the past three months to accept alternatives such as written responses or a VRI is baffling,” the statement reads. “It’s not about the investigation; it’s about optics and humiliation.”
The family paints a picture of a man who has long cooperated with Ghanaian institutions and has emerged unscathed from past scrutiny. They cite his clearance in Parliamentary inquiries and CHRAJ investigations as proof of his integrity.
In a final jab, the family likens the OSP’s handling of the case to “public lynching,” claiming that the reposted wanted poster is not an act of law enforcement but one of political theatre. “Justice will find the Hamans,” the statement concludes, invoking a biblical reference to those who misuse power for malicious ends.
