Former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, who has been placed on the Interpol red notice as a wanted man by the Office of Special Prosecutor spotted in Washington DC in the USA.
The former minister appeared on Interpol’s Red Notice as a wanted man for using public office for profit.
The OSP in June 2025 re-declared Mr Ofori-Atta, a wanted person and a fugitive from justice.
This was after Mr Ofori-Atta failed to appear before the OSP for an investigative interview scheduled on June 2, 2025.
The Special Prosecutor (SP), Kissi Agyebeng, subsequently initiated processes for an Interpol red notice and extradition to compel the return of Mr Ofori-Atta to Ghana to face investigations into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences.
At a press briefing in Accra on June 2, 2025, Mr Agyebeng chronicled months of failed attempts to secure Mr Ofori-Atta’s personal attendance after the OSP first notified him, that he was under investigation.
He said the OSP’s patience with Mr Ofori-Atta had run out, following what he described as repeated delays and non-compliance with ongoing criminal investigations against him.
“This office has always requested his attendance, and we have indicated clearly to him that we are unwilling to waive it. If we were amenable to taking any statement from Ken Ofori-Atta in absentia, we would have done so in February, and not waited till June 2, 2025”.
“We want him here physically, and we insist on it. A suspect in a criminal investigation does not pick and choose how the investigative body conducts its investigations and the methods suitable to him and his convenience. We will not countenance this conduct, not in this case,” Mr Agyebeng stated.
The OSP is investigating Mr Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta, a former Minister of Finance, over five major issues during his tenure in office under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo:
The Key Issues under investigations are:
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Petroleum and Minerals Revenue Assurance: Contractual arrangements between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
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Electricity Company Contract Termination: The termination of a contract between the Electricity Company of Ghana and Beijing Xiao Cheng Technology (BXC).
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National Cathedral Project: Procurement procedures and financial transactions related to the National Cathedral.
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Ambulance Procurement: A Ministry of Health contract with Service Ghana Auto Group Limited for purchasing and maintaining 307 ambulances.
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GRA Tax P-Fund Management:Handling and disbursement of funds from the Tax P-Fund Account of the GRA.In January 2025, the OSP officially notified Mr Ofori-Atta that he was a suspect in five separate cases and asked him to appear in person on February 10, 2025.
Mr Ofori-Atta’s lawyers informed the OSP that he was abroad indefinitely for medical reasons, and offered to represent him in his absence.
The OSP rejected the claim of indefinite absence and demanded a firm return date by February 10, 2025, and warned of legal consequences for failure to comply.
It also reminded that legal representatives cannot respond to criminal charges on behalf of clients.
On February 10, 2025, Mr Ofori-Atta’s lawyers submitted a doctor’s note stating he was undergoing tests and possibly surgery, with no clear return date.
On February 12, 2025 the OSP declared Mr Ofori-Atta a fugitive from justice, acting on an arrest warrant.
On February 18, 2025, Mr Ofori-Atta appealed to the OSP to remove his name from the ‘Wanted List’ and provided a definite return date in May 2025.
The OSP accepted his assurance and subsequently took his name off the list
In March 2025, Mr Ofori-Atta filed a lawsuit against the OSP and the Special Prosecutor, seeking compensation for what he called an unlawful declaration of him as wanted, and asked for the removal of related publications from the OSP’s social media.
The High Court in Accra (Human Rights Court) heard an interim application from Mr Ofori-Atta, asking that the OSP be barred from declaring him wanted again on March 28, 2025.
Following this the OSP gave a deadline of June 2, 2025 for Mr Ofori-Atta to report in person to the OSP headquarters.
When he did not appear, his name was added back to the list of wanted persons and was again declared a fugitive from justice.
The OSP subsequently requested an INTERPOL Red Notice against him.
