Former Minister of Finance, Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta, has reacted to the criminal investigated being conducted against him by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
Mr. Ofori-Atta, who has expressed frustration over the development, has indicated that the development comes as a surprise to him following the engagement between him and the OSP, and how the issue unfolded afterwards.
He has explained in an open later dated Wednesday, February 26, 2025, that he needed to set the records straight since the turn of events were both confusing and distressing.
The OSP had issued a wanted notice for the former Finance Minister and brother of the former President, Ken Ofori-Atta, over his involvement in some alleged corruption and corruption-related issues.
Key amongst the areas he was cited for corruption include the Strategic Mobilisation-GRA Contract, ECG-BXC contract termination, payments related to the National Cathedral, procurement of ambulances, and the use of the Tax Refund Account.
He was subsequently declared a “fugitive from justice” by the OSP when the Office said attempts to get him to its outfit to respond to the charges have proved futile.
However, the tag was later revoked and he was taken off the wanted list of the OSP after he communicated through his lawyers, a time when he would be available for probe. The OSP, nonetheless, threatened to take further action if he refused to comply with the date he had given.
In his reaction to the brouhaha, Ofori-Atta has explained that he was surprised that the situation could turn out the way it did considering what ensued between him and the anti-graft agency over the allegations.
“I have been in the news recently in quite a dramatic manner. I thought it important that I share with you the facts surrounding recent events and news articles concerning me and Ghana’s Special Prosecutor. I am as puzzled and dismayed, as I suspect you must be.
“I was out of the country on January 24, for medical reasons, when the Special Prosecutor invited me to an in-person meeting for Feb 10, 2025, in connection with four “corruption and corruption related cases”. I was not the originating nor implementing Minister in any of these portfolios. I immediately responded through my lawyers, indicating my willingness to have them provide him with any information he may require to aid in his investigation, given that I will be out of the country for the next few months for medical reasons.
“The Special Prosecutor rejected the offer to meet with my lawyers, insisting on a firm date for my personal attendance. Instead on February 11th, my home was raided by armed National Security operatives. The Special Prosecutor remarked that I had staged the raid on my own home and, subsequently, launched an international campaign and declared that I was a wanted ‘fugitive from justice'” he explained.
The OSP had earlier described the raid on Ofori-Atta’s home as staged, but was later confirmed by the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, and subsequently apologised to the former Minister on the floor of Parliament.
OSP declares Ken Ofori-Atta wanted, advertises notice on Facebook
