Kissi Agyebeng Blames Lack of Security Cooperation for Ofori-Atta’s Exit Amid OSP Probe

The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, has defended his office over criticisms regarding the delay in the extradition of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, attributing the development to a lack of cooperation from state security agencies at the time of Ofori-Atta’s departure from Ghana.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has come under intense public scrutiny for failing to prevent the former minister from travelling to the United States, despite ongoing investigations into his role in the controversial Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) contract with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

Speaking on The KSM Show, Mr Agyebeng clarified that the OSP had no direct control over Ghana’s exit points, including the Kotoka International Airport, and that its efforts to seek assistance from other agencies were frustrated.

“He left between December 1 and 7. Who was in power at that time? And we don’t control the airports and exit gates. But we’re taking flak—why allow him to leave? His cousin was President Nana Akufo-Addo. Let’s face facts,” he said.

The Special Prosecutor revealed that several requests made by his office to security agencies went unanswered, suggesting that the system was “set up against the OSP” during that period.

“We were not getting the cooperation of the other security agencies at the time he left for the States. We asked for all that, but we didn’t get it. It was as if there was a policy of blocking the OSP out,” he noted.

“That is what we were facing, and those are the circumstances we were expected to perform under. The security was set up against the OSP so that we would not be able to perform our job. We didn’t watch him leave—we simply couldn’t prevent it.”

Mr Agyebeng, however, indicated that collaboration between his office and key state institutions has since improved.

“Now we can rely on the Ghana Immigration Service and National Security to block someone [from leaving the country]. Back then, you would call Immigration, and no one would respond. You’d write to them, and still, there would be no response,” he said.

The Special Prosecutor’s remarks come as his office prepares to press charges by the end of November 2025 against several individuals implicated in the SML-GRA revenue assurance contracts.

Those expected to face prosecution include former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, former GRA Commissioner-Generals Dr Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah and Emmanuel Kofi Nti, as well as GRA officials Isaac Crentsil and Kwadwo Damoa, and Ernest Akore, a former technical advisor at the Ministry of Finance.

The OSP’s investigations reportedly uncovered acts of corruption, abuse of office, and breaches of procurement laws in the award and execution of the multi-million-dollar SML contracts.

Click the link Puretvonline.com | WhatsApp Channel to join the WhatsApp channel

GOT A STORY?

Contact/WhatsApp: +233243201960 or manuelnkansah33@gmail.com