Special Prosecutor Releases Court Dates for Ongoing Criminal Trials, Ofori-Atta Case First on Agenda
- Ghana's courts are set to hear several high-profile criminal cases in early 2026, according to the Office of the Special Prosecutor
- Key hearings include The Republic v. Kenneth Ofori-Atta, after the Office of the Special Prosecutor charged the former Minister for Finance
- The Office of the Special Prosecutor assured the public of updates as judicial proceedings unfold throughout the coming months
Several criminal cases involving multiple defendants are scheduled to appear before the courts in the opening months of 2026, as Ghana’s judicial process continues with a series of hearings lined up for January, February, and March.
A schedule released by the Office of the Special Prosecutor outlines the next hearing dates for a number of ongoing criminal proceedings, marking key steps in cases that have attracted public attention.
Source: Facebook
According to the schedule posted on Facebook, The Republic v. Kenneth Ofori-Atta and seven others is slated for hearing on January 29, 2026.
Another case, The Republic v. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid and nine others, has multiple hearing dates fixed for February 2, 9, 12, 17, 19, and 23, indicating an extended period of court engagement.
Meanwhile, The Republic v. Adjenim Boateng Adjei is scheduled for hearings on January 27, 28, and 29.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor said the listed dates represent the next stages in the judicial process for the cases and assured the public that updates would be provided as proceedings progress.
Ken Ofori-Atta currently in the US
Ofori-Atta, the most high-profile name on the list, is currently in the US under detention by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE described him as an illegal alien who overstayed his visa after his arrest on January 7.
The Special Prosecutor was leading efforts to extradite him from the US, as he is being investigated for alleged corruption in five different cases.
Ofori-Atta could remain in ICE custody for over three months after being denied bail during his first hearing on January 20, with the judge in the case asking for evidence of extradition attempts by the Ghana government by February 19. The case itself has been adjourned to April 27.
The bail request by Ofori-Atta's legal team was contested during the hearing because a state attorney in the US cited the extradition request that Ghana had submitted.
What the Special Prosecutor said about SML
At a press conference in October, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyabng held that contracts awarded to Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited were unlawful and influenced by personal gain.
He said evidence gathered by his office pointed to criminal conduct by some officials during the negotiation, approval, and implementation of the contracts.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor established that the contracts awarded to SML lacked genuine justification and were approved in clear violation of statutory procedures.
The probe further found that payments were made without adequate verification of work done, leading to significant financial losses to the state.
A Fourth Estate investigation first questioned the impact of Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited, leading the firm to admit that it was not performing the advertised services that claimed to tackle under-reporting, diversion and dilution.
The investigation also questioned malfeasance in the procurement process to award Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited the contract.
Source: Getty Images
The company has disputed the findings, saying it was given a five-year contract instead.
SML further challenged claims that it takes $100 million annually from its contract.
In January 2024, then-President Akufo-Addo commissioned KPMG to investigate the contract following an exposé by the Fourth Estate.
How Ken Ofori-Atta was arrested in US
Per journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, YEN.com.gh reported that Ofori-Atta was arrested around 11 am on January 6, 2026, when he stepped out of his apartment in the Westlight building, a high-end residential complex located at 1111 24th Street in Northwest Washington, DC.
The Westlight building is situated in one of Washington, DC’s most affluent neighbourhoods, about a 20-minute walk from the White House, and is known to house prominent personalities.
According to Manasseh, the arrest of the former Finance Minister seemed like a targeted operation since it didn't look like the typical mass arrest carried out in public places.
Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
