Court rejects Ofori-Atta’s bid to block “wanted” declaration by Special Prosecutor
By DL News
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Mr Ofori-Atta, currently facing multiple corruption-related investigations stemming from his time in office, had petitioned the court to restrain the OSP from issuing a “wanted” notice and launching what his lawyers described as a media-dri...
Court Rejects Ofori-Atta’s Bid to Block “Wanted” Declaration by Special Prosecutor
The Human Rights Court has dismissed an application by former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, who sought to stop the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) from branding him as a wanted person and circulating his image ahead of a scheduled appearance on June 2, 2025.
Mr Ofori-Atta, currently facing multiple corruption-related investigations stemming from his time in office, had petitioned the court to restrain the OSP from issuing a “wanted” notice and launching what his lawyers described as a media-driven manhunt.
The court’s ruling comes amid an ongoing Interpol Red Notice issued against him, with extradition efforts already underway to facilitate his return to Ghana.
This legal attempt is one of several suits Mr Ofori-Atta has filed in recent months against both the OSP and the Republic, all aimed at halting the progress of ongoing probes or contesting the legitimacy of arrest warrants issued by the anti-graft agency.
The background to the dispute traces back to February 12, 2025, when the OSP publicly declared Mr Ofori-Atta a fugitive, alleging he had failed to honour multiple invitations for questioning. The agency insisted his non-cooperation was impeding investigations, hence the need to publicise his status.
His legal team, however, claimed that Mr Ofori-Atta’s absence was not willful but due to pressing health concerns. They argued that he was undergoing preparations for a significant medical procedure and had duly informed the OSP of his condition.
Though the OSP removed his name from the wanted list on February 18, after receiving assurances of his intent to return, Mr Ofori-Atta proceeded to seek legal redress, alleging that his rights to dignity, fair hearing, and administrative justice had been violated. He also demanded compensation for reputational harm caused by the public declaration.
Despite these arguments, the court ruled in favour of the OSP, dismissing the application and paving the way for the agency to proceed with its investigations.
