The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has officially declared former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta “a wanted fugitive”, in respect of at least five high-profile corruption and corruption-related investigations.
The five cases are including cases for which the OSP is looking for Ken Ofori-Atta are as follows:
- SML Scandal: The questionable revenue assurance contracts between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), supposedly aimed at improving revenue collection in the petroleum and minerals sectors.
- National Cathedral Scandal: Allegations of procurement irregularities and financial mismanagement in the construction of Ghana’s controversial National Cathedral.
- Ambulance Procurement Scandal: Discrepancies surrounding the purchase and after-sales servicing of 307 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter ambulances, initially handled by the Ministry for Special Development Initiatives.
- Tax refund account mismanagement: Suspicious payments linked to the GRA’s tax refund account, raising concerns about fund diversion and
- Petroleum Fund embezzlement: The alleged siphoning of 1.3 billion cedis from the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF) at the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).
Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, February 12, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng stated that Ofori-Atta is now a wanted person and must return to Ghana immediately to face questioning.
He said “The fugitive’s name is Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori Atta. Mr Ofori-Atta is 66 years old. He was the minister of Finance of the republic between 2017 and 2024. Mr Ofori-Atta left the jurisdiction on or around 2 January 2025. On 24th January 2025, the OSP communicated to Mr Ofori-Atta that OSP considered him suspect in respect of the five cases above. Mr Ofori-Atta was asked to attend in person on Monday 10th February 2025 at 10GMT for an interview…Mr Ofori-Atta instructed his lawyers to inform the OSP that he was out of the jurisdiction indefinitely on medical grounds.”
He warned that failure to comply would result in steps being taken to compel his return to the country.
Dismissing claims that Ofori-Atta had left the country for medical treatment, Agyebeng insisted that the former minister must cooperate with the ongoing investigations.
Ofori-Atta’s lawyers were said to have submitted some letter from a medical doctor in the states claiming that the former finance minister is schedules for extra medical care and possibly a surgery. But the OSP said that letter is not enough evidence of that claim.
He also refuted reports suggesting that officials from the OSP had raided Ofori-Atta’s residence on Tuesday, February 11.
Instead, Agyebeng alleged that the raid was staged by the former minister himself in an attempt to mislead the public and discredit the OSP’s investigations.
The OSP’s latest move marks a significant development in the fight against corruption, as the office intensifies efforts to hold public officials accountable for alleged financial misconduct.
He alleged that the raid was staged by the former Finance Minister in a ruse to mislead the public and court disaffection towards the work of the OSP.
