Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has opened investigation into Ghana’s former Minister for Finance, Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta, in connection with multiple allegations of financial misconduct. The probe focuses on the following matters:

1.   Contractual arrangements between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited and the Ghana Revenue Authority for revenue assurance in the petroleum and mineral sectors.

2.   The termination of a contract between the Electricity Company of Ghana and Beijing Xiao Cheng Technology (BXC).

3.   Procurement processes and financial transactions related to the National Cathedral project.

4.   A Ministry of Health contract with Service Ghana Auto Group Limited for the acquisition and maintenance of 307 ambulances.

5.   The management and disbursement of funds from the Tax Refund Account of the Ghana Revenue Authority.

Since January 2025, the OSP has been seeking to compel Mr Ofori-Atta to appear before investigators for questioning. The following events outline the OSP’s efforts and Mr Ofori-Atta’s responses:

• 24 January 2025: The OSP formally notified Mr Ofori-Atta that he was a suspect in five cases and directed him to appear in person on 10 February 2025.
   
• 31 January 2025: His lawyers informed the OSP that he was outside the jurisdiction indefinitely for medical reasons but offered to represent him in his absence.
   
• 5 February 2025: The OSP rejected his claim of indefinite absence and demanded a reasonable return date by 10 February 2025, warning of legal consequences for non-compliance. The OSP also clarified that legal representatives cannot answer criminal charges on behalf of their clients.
   
• 10 February 2025: His legal team submitted a letter, purportedly from a doctor but addressed without a specific recipient, stating that he was undergoing medical tests and a possible surgical procedure, with no certainty as to when he would be available.
   
• 12 February 2025: After failing to secure his cooperation, the OSP, acting on an arrest warrant, declared Mr Ofori-Atta a fugitive from justice.
   
• 18 February 2025: Following his designation as a wanted person, Mr Ofori-Atta informed the OSP of his intention to return voluntarily in May 2025. He requested that his name be removed from the wanted list and, in contrast to his earlier position of remaining indefinitely outside the jurisdiction, provided a definitive return date. The OSP accepted his commitment and subsequently removed his name from the list.