Public interest advocate Rhodaline Imoru Ayarna is calling on Ghanaians in the United Kingdom to perform a citizen’s arrest on former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta if they encounter him.
Ayarna asserts that Ofori-Atta is a wanted individual, as declared by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), and believes citizens have the right to make an arrest and hand him over to state authorities.
Ayarna made these comments on TV3’s BigIssue on NewDay, Thursday, June 19, 2025, expressing her disapproval of the calls for the Office of the Special Prosecutor to engage Ken Ofori-Atta digitally.
“At the end of the day, it is important for us to know that, there are certain issues that need to be dealt in and it is only when he is around that we can get those issues delve into. As for the idea of using technological ways to get in touch with him, no, I don’t support it,” she stated.
She cited examples of former world leaders extradited from their hideouts to face trial, emphasising that Ken Ofori-Atta shouldn’t be treated differently.
“We read about leaders who are picked up and extradited to the US or UK for trial. I don’t think Ken Ofori-Atta is bigger than any of the former Presidents who have been picked up and handed over.
“So, I am just saying that, with that thing out there as a wanted person, any Ghanaian, any African, anybody, if you find Ken Ofori-Atta anywhere, at the restaurant, shop, anywhere, please, give him citizen’s arrest and bring him back to this country. I don’t think he is going to stay on the hospital bed. He will by all means take a walk to exercise his limbs. If you sight him you can arrest him. He is a wanted person,” she maintained.
Her comments come after the Human Rights Court dismissed an application by former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, which sought to prevent the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) from declaring him wanted ahead of his scheduled appearance on June 2, 2025.
Ofori-Atta, who is facing multiple investigations by the OSP and other state agencies related to his tenure, had asked the court to stop the OSP from issuing a “wanted” notice and circulating his image online.
He is currently the subject of an active Interpol Red Notice, and extradition proceedings have begun with the relevant authorities to secure his return to Ghana.
The dismissed application forms part of a series of civil suits he has filed against the OSP and the Republic, either to halt its operations or challenge the issuance of arrest warrants in the ongoing probes.
