OSP declares former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta a fugitive

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has declared Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta, a former Minister of Finance, a fugitive from justice.
The former Minister was being investigated for alleged corruption and corruption-related offences.
Mr Kissi Agyebeng, the Special Prosecutor, addressing the media on ongoing investigations, said some of the offences being investigated were contractual arrangements between Strategic Mobilization Ghana Limited and the Ghana Revenue Authority for the stated objective of the enhancement of revenue assurance In the downstream petroleum sector, upstream petroleum
production, and minerals and metals resources value chain.
Other offences are termination of a Distribution, Loss Reduction and Associated Network Improvement Project contract between the Electricity Company of Ghana Limited and Beijing Xiao Cheng Technology (BXC) and procurement of contractors and materials.
The rest are activities and payments In respect of the National Cathedral project and activities and payments in respect of a contract awarded by the Ministry of Health (initially commenced by the Ministry for Special Development Initiatives) to Service Ghana Auto Group Limited for purchases and after-sales service and maintenance of 307 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 305 CDI ambulances for the National Ambulance Service.
He said Mr. Ofori-Atta left the jurisdiction on or around January 2, 2025, and on January 24, 2025, the OSP communicated to him that the Office considered him a suspect in respect of four of the cases described above.
The Special Prosecutor told him he was directed to attend, in person, the OSP on Monday February 10, 2025, at 1000 hours for an interview.
He said by communication dated January 31, 2025, Mr. Ofori-Atta instructed his lawyers to inform the OSP that he was out of jurisdiction indefinitely on medical grounds and that the firm would notify the OSP of his arrival in the country in aid of rescheduling his personal attendance at the OSP.
Further, the firm offered its willingness to provide the OSP with any information the OSP may require aiding in the investigation until his arrival in the country.
The OSP said on February 5, 2025, the Office responded to Mr. Ofori-Atta that the OSP did not need or require notification from his lawyers of his arrival in the jurisdiction.
He said the Office acknowledged Mr. Ofori-Atta’s lawyers’ gracious offer to provide the OSP with information in aid of the investigation, however, the OSP insisted that his personal attendance was required.
“The OSP declined Mr. Ofori-Atta’s request to be away from the jurisdiction indefinitely on medical grounds on his say-so,” he added.
Consequently, the OSP directed Mr. Ofori-Atta to indicate by close of business on Monday 10 February 2025, a reasonable date of his return to the jurisdiction and attendance at the OSP.
He said the Office warned him that if he failed to do so, the OSP would take all necessary legal steps to secure his return to jurisdiction and attendance at the OSP at their own choosing.
He said subsequently, by communication dated February 10, 2025, Mr. Ofori-Atta’s lawyers transmitted to the OSP a generic letter procured by Mr. Ofori-Atta purporting to be from a doctor in a foreign jurisdiction stating that he had been seen and evaluated and that he was undergoing further testing and management and possible surgical intervention at an indicated future time.
“And further that his medical condition necessitates that he will stay and follow-up on his appointments,” he said.
He said on account of the purported letter, Mr. Ofori-Atta’s lawyers prayed that the attendance in person of the former Minister at the OSP should be fixed considering the medical report from his doctors.
The Special Prosecutor said at 1616 hours (4:16) pm on Tuesday February 11, 2025, the OSP received another letter from Mr. Ofori-Atta’s lawyers and this time, it was an inquiry of a raid that took place in the house of Mr Ofori-Atta, involving twelve men comprising one police officer, four military men and seven other men in plain clothing.
He said by threat of force they were able to enter Mr. Ofori-Atta’s house, and they undertook an exercise purporting to be a search of every room, office, gym and other spaces in the house.
The Special Prosecutor said the OSP did not raid Mr Ofori-Atta’s house on Tuesday February 11, 2025 or on any other day and that they did not cause any persons (however uniformed or bedecked) to raid the house.
“That cannot have been the OSP and that is not our style. If the OSP enters your premises, you will not be in doubt as to whether it was the OSP, and your lawyers would not have cause to do an inquiry,” he added.
He said they had their unique methods of conducting searches and also uniquely designed insignia of identifying officers and not just by a statement by a person that “We are from the OSP.”
He said their intelligence pointed them to state that the purported raid on Mr. Ofori-Atta’s residence was staged or at best an imposter action to court disfavour for the OSP and to derail the investigation.
“The OSP is not deterred by such occurrences and the investigations would continue as by law prescribed,” he said.
The OSP would take all necessary legal steps to secure his return to the jurisdiction and attendance at the OSP.
He said Mr. Ofori-Atta has two choices; either return to the jurisdiction voluntarily or the OSP would enforce his return.