Ken Ofori-Atta Placed on INTERPOL Red Notice: A Deepening Legal and Political Saga

Ghana’s former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, is now the subject of an INTERPOL Red Notice following an intensified investigation by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) into allegations of corruption and abuse of office. The Red Notice, issued on June 2, 2025, seeks global assistance in locating and detaining the former minister, who is reportedly undergoing medical treatment in the United States.

Mr. Ofori-Atta, who served as Finance Minister from January 2017 to February 2024 under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) a Nana Akuffo Addo Dankwa led administration, is accused of using public office for personal gain. The allegations involve multiple corruption-related matters, most notably concerning procurement irregularities in the controversial National Cathedral project and a revenue assurance deal with Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd (SML). The cathedral project alone reportedly consumed $58 million in government funds, despite remaining unfinished.

In February this year, the OSP first declared Mr. Ofori-Atta a “fugitive from justice” after he failed to respond to multiple summonses. Though his legal team submitted medical documentation explaining his absence and committed to a return date in May, the former minister missed a scheduled appearance before an investigative panel in early June, prompting a renewed declaration and the initiation of the Red Notice process.

Ofori-Atta’s legal representatives have strongly criticised the actions of the Special Prosecutor. Frank Davies, a member of his legal team, told AFP that the OSP had disregarded submitted medical records and acted without due sensitivity.

“We submitted medical records in good faith, and the office has chosen to ignore them. The Special Prosecutor is not being sensitive to the issues at hand, especially knowing that Mr. Ofori-Atta is unwell and receiving treatment,” Davies said.

Despite these claims, the OSP has insisted that ongoing medical care does not exempt a suspect from legal accountability. “A suspect in a criminal investigation does not pick and choose how the investigative body conducts its investigations,” Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng stated.

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In March, Ofori-Atta sued the OSP, alleging unlawful treatment and seeking removal of content about him from the office’s social media platforms.

A Red Notice is not an international arrest warrant but a global request to locate and provisionally detain a person pending extradition. It is issued by INTERPOL at the request of a member country, in this case Ghana, and is circulated to law enforcement agencies in 196 member states, including the United States.

INTERPOL’s General Secretariat reviews each request to ensure it adheres to international standards and is not politically or racially motivated. The notice includes details such as the subject’s name, photograph, and the charges they face. While not legally binding, it often triggers action under national laws and extradition treaties.

There are currently over 6,500 active public Red Notices, and many have led to arrests even years after issuance.

The case against Ken Ofori-Atta forms part of a broader anti-corruption drive led by President John Mahama, who returned to power after defeating the NPP in December 2024. Upon assuming office in January, President Mahama launched Operation Recover All Loot, a wide-ranging initiative aimed at recovering allegedly stolen public funds.

So far, the initiative has received over 200 complaints involving a reported $20 billion in potentially recoverable assets. Mahama has tasked the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to pursue these cases vigorously, insisting that “Ghana will no longer be a safe haven for corruption.”

If INTERPOL approves the Red Notice, U.S. authorities will decide whether to detain and extradite Mr. Ofori-Atta based on bilateral agreements and domestic legal procedures. Ghana’s Attorney General and Ministry of Foreign Affairs are expected to coordinate any extradition efforts.

As the legal drama continues to unfold, Ofori-Atta’s case has come to symbolize the tension between governance, political transitions, and the pursuit of accountability in Ghana’s evolving democracy.

We applaud the efforts of the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) team and the Office of the Special Prosecutor for their relentless pursuit of accountability and justice. Their work reflects a growing demand for transparency and ethical governance in Ghana.

Stay tuned to 12FramesOnline.com for more updates on this developing story.

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