Ghana’s former Finance Minister, Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta, is once again the subject of an international manhunt, as the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has reactivated an Interpol Red Notice for his arrest. This follows a turbulent series of legal and procedural twists surrounding his alleged role in five high-profile corruption investigations.
Five Key Issues Under Investigation
The OSP’s probe centers on major state contracts and public finance decisions made during Ofori-Atta’s tenure. These include:
1. Petroleum & Minerals Revenue Assurance: Alleged irregularities in a contract between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd (SML) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
2. Electricity Contract Termination: The controversial cancellation of an agreement between ECG and Beijing BXC.
3. National Cathedral Project: Scrutiny over procurement processes and funding for the national religious edifice.
4. Ambulance Deal: Questions about the Ministry of Health’s procurement of 307 ambulances.
5. GRA Tax ReFund: Alleged mismanagement of tax fund disbursements.
A Timeline of Evasion and Legal Drama
January 2025: The OSP names Ofori-Atta a suspect and summons him for questioning on February 10.
February 5: Through his lawyers, he claims he is abroad for medical reasons.
February 10: Fails to appear; doctor’s note is submitted late and does not specify medical condition.
February 12: OSP declares him a fugitive.
February 18: Appeals to the OSP, promising a May return; OSP suspends Red Notice but warns of reactivation if he fails to comply.
Legal Maneuvers and Court Battles
March 2025: Ofori-Atta sues the OSP, seeking the removal of his “wanted” label and deletion of related social media publications.
March 28: A Human Rights Court hears his plea to block OSP’s public declarations and adjourns to June 18.
Last-Minute Developments
As of May 28, 2025, days before his promised return, Ofori-Atta’s lawyers informed the OSP that a surgical procedure had been scheduled for June 13, pushing his return date further. However, they failed to provide certified medical documents or an official excuse for non-compliance with the February order.
OSP maintains no confirmation has been received of the earlier March surgery claim. Efforts to mediate were unsuccessful, with the OSP rejecting further delays and stating that the matter must follow legal due process.
What the OSP Is Doing Now
The arrest warrant remains active.
He has been re-added to the Interpol Red Notice for international tracking.
A formal request for extradition has been activated.
The OSP maintains that illness does not shield suspects from accountability—unless proven incapacitating.
What This Means
The reactivation of the Interpol Red Notice marks a pivotal escalation in Ghana’s anti-corruption efforts under the OSP. With the eyes of the international community and Ghanaian citizens watching closely, the question now is whether Ofori-Atta will return, face the charges, or continue to elude justice.
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