By Francis Kobena Tandoh
Former Ghanaian Finance Minister, Ken Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta was declared a wanted person by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) on Monday after missing the June 2 deadline.
This decisive action follows his failure to appear in person at the OSP’s headquarters by the stipulated deadline, violating an earlier agreement that saw his temporary removal from the wanted list.
The OSP declared Ofori-Atta a “fugitive from justice” in February 2025, citing his repeated non-compliance with summons for questioning regarding multiple corruption allegations.
According to the OSP, the issues being probed include his involvement in contracts with Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) for revenue assurance, issues surrounding the National Cathedral project, and other financial dealings during his tenure as Finance Minister between 2017 and 2024.
His name was removed from the wanted list on February 18, 2025, after his legal team provided a definite date for his voluntary return to Ghana and subsequent appearance before the OSP on June 2, 2025.
Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng warned that failure to honour this commitment would result in his immediate reinstatement on the wanted list and the initiation of processes for an INTERPOL Red Notice, aiming to secure his arrest and extradition.
However, sources close to Ofori-Atta confirmed to local media that the former Finance Minister would not be able to make an appearance physically at the OSP due to an “unexpected deterioration in his health condition”.
His lawyers reportedly communicated this development to the OSP and the Human Rights Court, providing accompanying medical reports.
They also suggested that he was willing to participate in a virtual interview to provide his cautionary statement, leveraging provisions under the Electronic Transactions Act.
However, the OSP had previously rejected similar medical excuses in February, insisting on his physical presence for an effective investigation.
The Special Prosecutor’s office has consistently maintained that legal representation cannot substitute for a suspect’s personal attendance in criminal investigations.
The former Finance Minister now faces the full force of the OSP’s mandate, which includes pursuing his return to Ghana by all lawful means.
The threat of an INTERPOL Red Notice means he could be arrested in any of INTERPOL’s 196 member countries, significantly curtailing his international movement.
This development adds another complex layer to the ongoing legal battle between the OSP and the former Finance Minister.
Ofori-Atta has a pending suit at the Human Rights Court challenging the OSP’s initial declaration of him as wanted, arguing its unlawfulness and seeking the removal of related content from the OSP’s social media platforms.
The Human Rights Court has scheduled a ruling on this matter for June 18, 2025, further complicating the legal landscape. Enditem
Find the notice of Ken Ofori-Atta as a wanted person as advertised by the OSP below:
