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Former Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta has hit back at the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for attempting to associate him with the controversial BXC–Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) transaction, describing the move as an act of “intimidation and victimisation”.
In a statement issued on his behalf, Mr Ofori-Atta said he had no involvement in the BXC–ECG negotiations, stressing that the process was managed exclusively by the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), the Ministry of Energy, and ECG.
“It is preposterous that, once again, the OSP is attempting to drag Mr Ofori-Atta into the court of public opinion,” the statement read. “If the Special Prosecutor has any evidence linking him to this transaction or any other matter listed in its half-year report, the proper course of action is to file charges and allow the courts to decide.”
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The BXC–ECG case dates back to 2018, when BXC Ghana Ltd., a Chinese-owned company, contested its disqualification from participating in the Private Sector Participation (PSP) concession process to manage ECG. The process, under the US$498 million Millennium Challenge Compact II, was led by MiDA but soon became clouded by allegations of political interference and procurement irregularities.
Eventually, the concession was awarded to Power Distribution Services (PDS), a consortium led by Manila Electric Company (Meralco). However, the deal was abruptly terminated in 2019 after the government claimed breaches in financial guarantees, sparking further controversy.
According to Mr Ofori-Atta’s camp, the Ministry of Finance had no role in the negotiations, and any attempt to implicate him amounts to unfair scapegoating.
The statement also accused the OSP of engaging in selective disclosures, noting that the anti-graft office has publicly catalogued cases involving Mr Ofori-Atta without even inviting him for questioning.
“This selective posture creates the unfortunate impression that the OSP seeks to tarnish Mr Ofori-Atta’s reputation rather than pursue justice,” the statement said.
The OSP, led by Kissi Agyebeng, recently referenced five ongoing cases in its half-year report, including the BXC–ECG transaction, in which it hinted at possible wrongdoing by senior government officials.
But the office has faced growing criticism in recent years for what some political figures have called “trial by ambush”. In 2023, it came under fire over its handling of former Sanitation Minister Cecilia Dapaah’s unexplained cash saga, where leaked details dominated headlines before the investigations concluded. In 2024, former Attorney-General Godfred Dame also accused the OSP of unfairly dragging his name into a corruption probe without due process.
Mr Ofori-Atta, who served as Ghana’s Finance Minister from 2017 to 2024, insisted that he remains committed to cooperating with lawful investigations but warned that he would not allow his reputation to be destroyed through “trial by speculation and public spectacle.”
“The OSP must respect due process and ensure the fight against corruption does not become a tool for intimidation,” his statement concluded.
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