The Accra High Court has dismissed an application by former Minister of Finance, Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta, that sought to quash an arrest warrant issued by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
The former Minister had asked the court to declare the warrant unlawful and to strike out all related enforcement actions, including the request for an Interpol Red Notice.
According to his application, the OSP acted outside its mandate and procedural bounds in securing the warrant.
The Court, in its Thursday, July 31, 2025 ruling held that the application lacked merit. The presiding judge dismissed it in its entirety, affirming the validity of the OSP’s actions.
This is the latest development in the running standoff between Ken Ofori-Atta and the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has been investigating Ken Ofori-Atta over alleged corruption and procurement breaches during his tenure.
The investigations cover five key areas:
- Petroleum & Minerals Revenue Assurance: A contract between Strategic Mobilization Ghana Ltd and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) relating to revenue tracking and assurance.
- Electricity Contract Termination: The controversial cancellation of the Electricity Company of Ghana’s (ECG) agreement with Beijing BXC.
- National Cathedral Project: Probing irregularities in procurement processes and payment approvals for the state-sponsored cathedral project.
- Ambulance Procurement Deal: Examining the Ministry of Health’s acquisition of 307 ambulances and suspected breaches in the contract process.
- GRA Tax P-Fund: Investigating the management and disbursement of tax-related funds held by the GRA.
He was invited by the OSP for questioning on several occasions, but failed to honour, citing medical treatment abroad. After repeated no-shows and expired deadlines, the OSP secured a court-issued arrest warrant and declared him a wanted person in February 2025, and also initiated processes for an Interpol Red Notice to secure his arrest if found outside Ghana.
A response from his legal team through a lawsuit sought to challenge the OSP’s actions and requested the court to quash the arrest warrant. However, the High Court dismissed the application today, July 31, 2025, affirming the OSP’s authority and the legality of its actions.
The ruling suggests the arrest warrant and Interpol Red Notice remain valid and enforceable, where the OSP can now pursue further action to secure Ofori-Atta’s return to Ghana to face investigation.
