By: Sarah Baafi
Former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta has been declared wanted by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) after leaving Ghana in early January 2025 for medical treatment. According to the Special Prosecutor, despite being summoned to appear before the OSP on February 10, 2025, to answer questions in several high-profile corruption cases, Mr. Ofori-Atta failed to comply.
His lawyers stated in a letter addressed to the OSP that he is abroad indefinitely for health reasons and offered to cooperate remotely with the investigation.
The OSP issued a directive for Mr. Ofori-Atta to appear in person for questioning on January 24, 2025. However, his legal team responded on January 31 that he was already out of the country undergoing medical tests.
They indicated that the former Finance Minister had informed both the former and current Chief of Staff about his travel plans but did not specify when he would return.
Find Details from the former finance minister’s legal team below
Critics argue that Mr Ofori-Atta’s failure to return suggests a deliberate attempt to evade justice. The OSP has expressed skepticism over his claims and has officially declared him a fugitive.
The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng confirmed this on February 12, 2025 assuring that all necessary measures will be taken to compel his return if required.
The former Minister is implicated in multiple corruption cases involving alleged financial mismanagement during his tenure as Finance Minister from January 2017 until February 2024. According to the SP, these include controversies surrounding Strategic Mobilization Limited (SML), the National Cathedral project, ambulance procurement scandals, and other financial irregularities.
