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The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has officially declared former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta a suspect in four high-profile corruption investigations.
The cases under scrutiny include financial dealings related to the National Cathedral project, Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML), and two other significant financial misconduct matters.
At a press briefing on Wednesday, February 12, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng announced that Ken Ofori-Atta is now a wanted individual and must return to Ghana immediately for questioning. He warned that failure to comply would lead to legal actions to compel his return.
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The special prosecutor dismissed claims that Ofori-Atta had travelled abroad for medical treatment, insisting that the former minister must cooperate with the ongoing investigations.
Additionally, he refuted reports alleging that Ofori-Atta had raided Ofori-Atta’s residence on Tuesday, February 11, claiming instead that the former minister staged the event to mislead the public and undermine the legitimacy of the investigations.
The special prosecutor outlined the key areas of investigation, which include:
- Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) Contracts: Reviewing the agreements between SML and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) concerning revenue assurance in the petroleum sector and mineral resource value chains.
- Termination of the ECG-BXC Contract: Investigating the circumstances surrounding the termination of a distribution loss reduction and network improvement project contract between the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Beijing Technology (BXC).
- National Cathedral Project: Examining procurement processes, contractor selections, material acquisitions, and financial transactions linked to the construction of the National Cathedral.
- Ambulance Procurement for the Ministry of Health: Scrutinising payments and activities related to a contract originally initiated by the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives for the purchase and maintenance of 307 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter ambulances for the National Ambulance Service.
- Utilisation of the GRA Tax Refund Account: Assessing fund allocations and payments from the Ghana Revenue Authority’s tax refund account.
The special prosecutor further emphasised:
“The fugitive’s name is Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta. Mr. Ofori-Atta is 66 years old and served as Ghana’s Minister of Finance from 2017 to 2024. He left the jurisdiction on or around January 2, 2025. On January 24, 2025, the OSP officially communicated to Mr. Ofori-Atta that he was considered a suspect in four of the cases under investigation. He was instructed to appear in person on Monday, February 10, 2025, at 10:00 GMT for an interview. However, through his legal representatives, Mr. Ofori-Atta informed the OSP that he was out of the jurisdiction indefinitely on medical grounds.”
The declaration of Ken Ofori-Atta as a suspect in these investigations marks a critical moment in Ghana’s ongoing fight against corruption. With the OSP intensifying its scrutiny of financial mismanagement and misconduct by public officials, this case could set a precedent for accountability in the country’s governance structures.
Legal analysts and the general public are keenly observing the proceedings, awaiting further developments on whether Ofori-Atta will return voluntarily or face legal consequences for non-compliance.
The OSP’s resolve to uphold transparency and justice will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Ghana’s anti-corruption efforts.
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