Ofori-Atta’s Family Speaks on Ken’s Wanted Notice, Accuses OSP of Abuse of Power

• The family of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has accused the Office of the Special Prosecutor of having a vendetta against Ken Ofori-Atta
• The special prosecutor has declared Ofori-Atta wanted again after he failed to honour an invitation on June 2, 2025, as scheduled
• The family said it petitioned the National Central Bureau and the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files to reverse the red notice

The family of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has accused the Office of the Special Prosecutor of having an agenda against the former appointee, who was recently declared a fugitive.

In a statement, the family condemned the issuance of an INTERPOL Red Notice for Ofori-Atta.

It also called the special prosecutor's actions a violation of due process.

The special prosecutor declared Ofori-Atta wanted again after he failed to honour an invitation on June 2, 2025.

Ofori-Atta is under investigation for five cases, including contractual arrangements between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited and the Ghana Revenue Authority, as well as procurement procedures and financial transactions related to the National Cathedral.

The family maintains that Ofori-Atta has been undergoing treatment at the Mayo Clinic in the US for cancer.

It claims Ofori-Atta was scheduled for surgery on June 13, 2025, and had requested a video-recorded interview instead of an in-person meeting.

“Rather than respecting the medical records shared and permitting a virtual engagement as permitted under law, the OSP chose to portray a man scheduled for surgery as a fugitive."

The family said it has formally petitioned both the National Central Bureau and the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files (CCF) for the immediate deletion of the Red Notice.

The family said the warrant issued for Ofori-Atta on February 11 was obtained under unusual circumstances without a supporting affidavit.

It contends that the notice was procured based on manipulated evidence and withheld medical information.

Commenting on development, Amanda Clinton, a legal analyst, noted that the decision to request a public notice rather than a confidential one may have compromised the element of surprise

“If Ghana genuinely wanted help in locating and apprehending him, the Red Notice could have been listed as confidential. This way, only international law enforcement would be alerted, and he could be quietly intercepted without tipping him off.”

Timeline of Ofori-Atta's time under scrutiny

On January 24, 2025, the Special Prosecutor formally notified Ofori-Atta that he was a suspect in the five cases and directed him to appear in person on February 10, 2025.

On January 31, 2025, the former minister's lawyers informed the special prosecutor that he would be outside Ghana indefinitely for medical reasons but offered to represent him in his absence.

On February 5, 2025, the Special Prosecutor rejected a claim of indefinite absence and demanded a reasonable return date by February 10, 2025. Agyebeng also warned of legal consequences for non-compliance and clarified that lawyers cannot answer criminal charges on behalf of their clients.

On February 10, 2025, Ofori-Atta's lawyers submitted a doctor’s note stating he was undergoing tests and possibly surgery in the US, with no clear return date. The special prosecutor received the letter with scepticism, describing the letter as purportedly coming from a doctor.

On February 12, 2025, the Special Prosecutor declared Ofori-Atta a fugitive from justice, acting on an arrest warrant.

On February 18, 2025, Ofori-Atta appealed to the special prosecutor to remove his name from the wanted list and pledged to return to Ghana in May. The special prosecutor subsequently reversed the wanted notice.

Following this, Agyebeng gave a deadline of June 2, 2025, for Ofori-Atta to report in person to the Office of the Special Prosecutor headquarters or face being declared wanted again.

On March 16, 2025, Ofori-Atta sued the Office of the Special Prosecutor, seeking compensation for being declared wanted.

On May 28, 2025, the court adjourned Ofori-Atta's attempt to keep the special prosecutor from declaring him wanted. The case was adjourned to June 18.

Ken Ofori-Atta sues National Security operatives

YEN.com.gh reported that Ofori-Atta sued National Security operatives over claims that they trespassed on his home back in March.

The suit at the high court named two senior police officers, DSP Bismark Boakye Ansah and Chief Inspector Mensah.

The raid occurred a day before the special prosecutor announced that Ofori-Atta was a suspect in corruption investigations.

Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.

Source: YEN.com.gh