Ken Ofori-Atta Declared Wanted Again After No-Show at Special Prosecutor’s Office
- The special prosecutor has declared the former finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, wanted again
- Ofori-Atta was unable to appear before the Office of the Special Prosecutor on June 2, 2025, as scheduled due to health concerns
- Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyabeng said Ofori-Atta and his legal team have been acting in bad faith
Don't miss out! Get your daily dose of sports news straight to your phone. Join YEN's Sports News channel on WhatsApp now!
The Office of the Special Prosecutor has declared former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta wanted again after he failed to honour a scheduled meeting on June 2.
Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyabeng announced the update at a press conference.
Source: Getty Images
Agyabeng described Ofori-Atta's posturing as unacceptable and accused his lawyers of bad faith in dealings with the office.
He also said his office had triggered the processes for the extradition and the listing of Ofori-Atta on Interpol's red notice.
Agyabeng stressed that the office wanted him physically present and not virtually, as recently proposed.
"Mr Ofori-Atta's conduct is totally unacceptable… Consequently, we declare that Mr. Ofori-Atta is a wanted person and fugitive from justice."
Ofori-Atta is under investigation for five cases, including contractual arrangements between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited and the Ghana Revenue Authority, as well as procurement procedures and financial transactions related to the National Cathedral.
Timeline of Ofori-Atta's time as a suspect
On January 24, 2025, the Special Prosecutor formally notified Ofori-Atta that he was a suspect in the five cases and directed him to appear in person on February 10, 2025.
On January 31, 2025, the former minister's lawyers informed the special prosecutor that he would be outside Ghana indefinitely for medical reasons but offered to represent him in his absence.
On February 5, 2025, the Special Prosecutor rejected a claim of indefinite absence and demanded a reasonable return date by February 10, 2025. Agyebeng also warned of legal consequences for non-compliance and clarified that lawyers cannot answer criminal charges on behalf of their clients.
On February 10, 2025, Ofori-Atta's lawyers submitted a doctor’s note stating he was undergoing tests and possibly surgery in the US, with no clear return date. The special prosecutor received the letter with scepticism, describing the letter as purportedly coming from a doctor.
On February 12, 2025, the Special Prosecutor declared Ofori-Atta a fugitive from justice, acting on an arrest warrant.
Source: Getty Images
On February 18, 2025, Ofori-Atta appealed to the special prosecutor to remove his name from the wanted list and pledged to return to Ghana in May. The special prosecutor subsequently took his name off the list following the assurance.
Following this, Agyebeng gave a deadline of June 2, 2025, for Ofori-Atta to report in person to the Office of the Special Prosecutor headquarters or face being declared wanted again.
On March 16, 2025, Ofori-Atta sued the Office of the Special Prosecutor, seeking compensation for being declared wanted.
On May 28, 2025, the court adjourned Ofori-Atta's attempt to keep the special prosecutor from declaring him wanted. The case was adjourned to June 18.
Ken Ofori-Atta sues National Security operatives
YEN.com.gh reported in March that Ofori-Atta sued National Security operatives over claims that they trespassed on his home
The suit at the high court named two senior police officers, DSP Bismark Boakye Ansah and Chief Inspector Mensah.
The raid came a day before the Office of the Special Prosecutor declared Ofori-Atta a suspect in corruption investigations.
Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
