Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has once again been labeled a wanted individual by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) due to his absence from questioning on Monday, June 2, 2025.
During a press conference in Accra, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng disclosed that Mr. Ofori-Atta’s lawyers had notified the OSP of their client’s cancer diagnosis. Nevertheless, Mr. Agyebeng expressed doubts regarding the validity of this excuse, implying it might be a calculated attempt to avoid facing justice.
Timeline of evasion
The ex-Finance Minister was initially branded a “fugitive from justice” in February 2025 after neglecting multiple invitations from the OSP to assist in investigations concerning several high-profile corruption cases. These cases include:
His involvement in the contentious revenue assurance contract with Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML)
Financial transactions linked to the construction of the National Cathedral
A range of other procurement and spending issues during his time in office from 2017 to 2024
Mr. Ofori-Atta was briefly taken off the wanted list on February 18, 2025, after his legal representatives assured that he would return to Ghana and report to the OSP on June 2. That date has now come and gone without his presence.
Cancer diagnosis cited
Special Prosecutor Agyebeng confirmed that Mr. Ofori-Atta’s legal team provided medical documentation indicating an “unexpected deterioration” in his health along with a recent cancer diagnosis. The team suggested that the former Minister be permitted to provide a caution statement virtually under the Electronic Transactions Act.
However, the OSP denied this request, emphasizing the necessity of a physical appearance to guarantee a comprehensive investigation and accountability. “Legal representation cannot replace the personal attendance of a suspect in a criminal investigation,” Mr. Agyebeng stressed.
Source: HotFmOnline.com
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