OSP re-declares Ken Ofori-Atta wanted
By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has re-declared former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta a wanted person after he failed to honor a scheduled invitation to appear before the office on Monday, June 2, 2025.
Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng, addressing the media in Accra yesterday, June 2, 2025, expressed his disappointment over Mr. Ofori-Atta’s failure to report in person as instructed, adding that the former minister did not notify the OSP of any intention to reschedule or justify his absence.
According to Mr. Agyebeng, the OSP had granted Mr. Ofori-Atta sufficient time and opportunity to cooperate with ongoing investigations into his conduct during his tenure as Ghana’s Finance Minister. The investigations focus on alleged corruption-related offenses, including suspected procurement breaches, financial misconduct, and abuse of office.
“He had a duty to appear before the Office today, and if for any reason he could not, he had an obligation to inform us officially so alternative arrangements could be made. That did not happen.
“Let me reiterate: we want him physically—not virtually. He must appear in person to assist with the investigations,” Mr. Agyebeng said.
The Special Prosecutor explained that the re-declaration of Mr. Ofori-Atta as wanted means law enforcement agencies across the country and at Ghana’s borders have been alerted to locate and bring him in for questioning. This decision, he added, was made in accordance with the OSP’s mandate to ensure accountability and prevent impunity among public officials.
This is the second time Mr. Ofori-Atta has been declared wanted by the OSP. On February 10, 2025, he was initially invited for questioning regarding the management of public funds during his time in office, including allegations surrounding the controversial domestic debt exchange program, procurement processes related to COVID-19 expenditures, and foreign loan negotiations. He failed to appear and was declared wanted by the OSP on February 12, 2025.
Mr. Agyebeng emphasized that the OSP is not conducting a witch hunt, but merely executing its lawful mandate to investigate and prosecute acts of corruption and related offenses.
“No citizen is above the law, and certainly no public officer should expect to be treated differently when there are serious questions to answer,” he stressed.
The OSP has since issued a fresh notice to Mr. Ofori-Atta, urging him to report without further delay. It remains unclear whether the former minister is currently in Ghana, as his legal team has so far not responded to media inquiries.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959), grants the OSP the authority to investigate and prosecute individuals suspected of corruption and corruption-related offenses, including those in political and public office.
The public has been encouraged to provide any relevant information that may assist in locating Mr. Ofori-Atta, and the OSP says it remains committed to ensuring justice is served without fear or favor.
