Ken Ofori-Atta faces fugitive status, INTERPOL action if he misses June 2 deadline-OSP
By DL News
Published
2 min read
The OSP has issued a final ultimatum to Mr. Ofori-Atta, warning that failure to report in person will lead to his reinstatement on Ghana’s list of wanted persons.
Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta is under renewed pressure to appear before the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) by Monday, June 2, 2025, or risk being declared a fugitive once again and facing international arrest through INTERPOL.
The OSP has issued a final ultimatum to Mr. Ofori-Atta, warning that failure to report in person will lead to his reinstatement on Ghana’s list of wanted persons. Additionally, the OSP has confirmed that it will initiate a request for an INTERPOL Red Notice—a global alert that could lead to his arrest and extradition from any member country.
Mr. Ofori-Atta is currently the subject of an extensive investigation by the OSP, focusing on five high-profile matters stemming from his tenure as Finance Minister under President Nana Akufo-Addo. The probe centers on:
Petroleum and Minerals Revenue Assurance – examining contracts involving Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited and the GRA;
Electricity Contract Termination – the controversial cancellation of a deal between ECG and Beijing Xiao Cheng Technology (BXC);
National Cathedral Project – scrutinizing procurement and funding processes;
Ambulance Procurement – a Ministry of Health agreement with Service Ghana Auto Group for 307 ambulances;
Tax P-Fund Management – concerns over how the Ghana Revenue Authority handled specific public funds.
The OSP first notified Mr. Ofori-Atta of his status as a suspect in January 2025 and ordered his appearance on February 10. His legal team, however, responded by indicating that he was abroad for medical treatment and could not attend in person. They offered to represent him in his absence—an offer the OSP flatly rejected, reminding all parties that legal proxies cannot answer to criminal investigations.
On February 10, a doctor’s note was submitted stating that Mr. Ofori-Atta was undergoing diagnostic tests and might require surgery. Without a definite return date, the OSP declared him a fugitive on February 12 and activated an arrest warrant. A week later, Mr. Ofori-Atta responded, promising to return by May. The OSP accepted this commitment and removed his name from the wanted list.
In March, the former minister escalated the matter legally by suing both the OSP and Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng. He argued that the fugitive declaration was unlawful and demanded compensation, along with the removal of the OSP’s related online publications. The Human Rights Court heard his interim application on March 28, where he sought an injunction to prevent the OSP from repeating the “wanted” label.
Subsequently, the OSP set June 2, 2025, as the new deadline for Mr. Ofori-Atta to appear at its headquarters. As that date nears, officials have reiterated that failure to show up will trigger immediate legal consequences, including a renewed fugitive declaration and a formal request to INTERPOL.
The looming deadline now represents a critical turning point in one of Ghana’s most-watched anti-corruption cases.
