The wife of Ken Ofori-Atta has explained the inability of the former Finance Minister to present himself to the Office of the Special Prosecutor to account for his tenure in office.
According to Mrs Angela Ofori-Atta, her husband is recuperating from the cancer surgery he had on June 13.
“If I have to make the choice, I will make it again, I don’t know a wife or family who will send a loved one to respond to a Special Prosecutor when they are battling cancer. So, I’m sorry, but this is what we have to face, we have to get him well,” she explained.
Her comment was in reaction to Mr Agyebeng’s assertion during a press conference on June 2 when he declared Mr Ofori-Atta wanted again, for failing to honour a promise to appear his outfit earlier on that day.
“It is three hours past the agreed time for Ken Ofori-Atta to attend upon the Office of the Special Prosecutor. He has failed to do so. In view of this, as stated before. I have directed that he should be placed on the wanted list again,” he declared.
He explained that “Illness is not a shield from accountability—unless certified as incapacitating.”
In reaction, Mrs Ofori-Atta said, “It’s amazing that we have to deal with cancer in the last year. This is the only process by which we hopefully ensure that it doesn’t spread.”
“The Ken that we all know does not run away from accountability. We know that he has been to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to talk about his work. This is not a Ken who runs away from accountability. I ask the public to remember that he hasn’t shied away from facing up issues,” she said on June 16.
She noted that the decision to get Mr Ofori-Atta to recover fully before presenting himself for interrogation, is one that has been taken by the family.
Mr Ofori-Atta’s wife wondered why the Special Prosecutor has declined to interrogate her husband through video conferencing.
“Even through these stressful times, he has always said, let me respond to you by video, it is allowed, so that I’m not the cause of you delaying your investigations. He has also said whatever questions you have, you can ask my lawyers, and we will respond. Whatever information you want, we can give you. So, I don’t understand what is going on,” she stated on Accra-based Joy FM.
The OSP is investigating Mr. Ofori-Atta in connection with five high-stakes cases linked to his tenure under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. These include:
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- Petroleum and Minerals Revenue Assurance:
Contractual arrangements between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). - Electricity Company Contract Termination:
The termination of a contract between the Electricity Company of Ghana and Beijing Xiao Cheng Technology (BXC). - National Cathedral Project:
Procurement procedures and financial transactions related to the National Cathedral. - Ambulance Procurement:
A Ministry of Health contract with Service Ghana Auto Group Limited for purchasing and maintaining 307 ambulances. - GRA Tax P-Fund Management:
Handling and disbursement of funds from the Tax P-Fund Account of the GRA.
- Petroleum and Minerals Revenue Assurance:
