The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has reissued an arrest warrant and placed Ken Ofori-Atta back on INTERPOL’s Red Notice list, citing his continued failure to cooperate with investigations into five high-profile corruption and procurement-related cases.
The renewed pursuit, announced on May 28, comes after Ofori-Atta—former Minister for Finance—missed yet another deadline to appear before the OSP. This, the office said, violates earlier agreements and undermines efforts to secure accountability.
Five Key Investigations
The OSP has outlined five core areas under investigation involving Mr. Ofori-Atta:
- Petroleum & Minerals Revenue Assurance – Focused on a contract between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) relating to revenue tracking and assurance.
- Electricity Contract Termination – Linked to the controversial cancellation of the ECG’s agreement with Beijing BXC.
- National Cathedral Project – Probing irregularities in procurement processes and payment approvals for the state-sponsored cathedral project.
- Ambulance Procurement Deal – Examining the Ministry of Health’s acquisition of 307 ambulances and suspected breaches in the contract process.
- GRA Tax P-Fund – Investigating the management and disbursement of tax-related funds held by the GRA.
Timeline of Events
- January 2025: OSP names Ofori-Atta a suspect and summons him for questioning on February 10.
- 31 January: His lawyers inform the OSP that he is abroad for medical treatment.
- 5 February: OSP demands a confirmed return date and warns of legal consequences.
- 10 February: A doctor’s note mentions upcoming surgery in March but fails to indicate when he will return.
- 12 February: OSP declares him a fugitive from justice.
- 18 February: Ofori-Atta’s legal team provides a firm return date, leading to a temporary suspension of the wanted status—but with a warning of reinstatement if non-compliance continues.
Legal Countermoves
In March, Ofori-Atta filed a suit against the OSP in the Human Rights Court, demanding removal from the wanted list and deletion of all related posts from the OSP’s social media pages. The case was first heard on March 28 and is scheduled to continue on June 18, 2025.
Recent Developments: A Missed Deadline
On May 28, less than a week before his expected return, Ofori-Atta’s legal team notified the OSP that he would be unable to comply due to surgery scheduled for June 13. Although they offered to submit a scan as proof, the OSP rejected it, noting the absence of certified medical documentation and the failure to provide an exact return date.
A proposal for a video conferencing session was also turned down. The OSP insisted that physical presence is required, especially given the seriousness of the allegations.
Renewed Action
In response, the OSP has:
- Reissued the arrest warrant for Ken Ofori-Atta
- Reactivated the INTERPOL Red Notice to secure international cooperation
- Requested extradition procedures through Ghana’s central authority
The OSP stressed that “illness is not a shield from accountability—unless certified as incapacitating,” reaffirming its commitment to due process and justice.
