The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has reclassified former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta as a wanted person after he failed to comply with a directive to appear in person before the office on Monday, June 2.
In a strongly worded statement, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng said the OSP’s patience had been exhausted, describing Mr Ofori-Atta’s repeated delays and failure to cooperate as unacceptable.
“This office has always requested his attendance, and we have indicated clearly to him that we are unwilling to waive it,” the statement read. “If we were amenable to taking any statement from Ken Ofori-Atta in absentia, we would have done so in February and not waited till June 2.”
Mr Ofori-Atta, who is under investigation for alleged financial misconduct, including money laundering and causing financial loss to the state, had earlier appealed to the OSP to conduct the session virtually, citing ongoing medical treatment abroad. His legal team submitted supporting documentation to both the OSP and the Human Rights Court.
But the OSP insists that his physical presence is non-negotiable.
“A suspect in a criminal investigation does not pick and choose how the investigative body conducts its investigations and the methods suitable to him and his convenience. We will not countenance this conduct, not in this case,” Mr Agyebeng stated.
This latest declaration places the former minister once again on the OSP’s list of wanted persons, reviving the threat of international enforcement actions, including the issuance of an INTERPOL Red Notice, which could lead to arrest and extradition from any participating country.
This marks a significant escalation in the high-profile investigation that has gripped the public since Mr Ofori-Atta was initially named a suspect earlier this year. The former minister has consistently maintained his innocence and previously sued the OSP for what he described as an unlawful and damaging declaration.
The OSP has reiterated its call for public cooperation and pledged to pursue the case without fear or favour.
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