The Human Rights Division of the Accra High Court has dismissed an application filed by former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, seeking permission to
The Human Rights Division of the Accra High Court has dismissed an application filed by former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, seeking permission to amend his writ and compel the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to produce additional documents in his ongoing human rights case against the institution.
The ruling, delivered on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, marks another setback in a widening legal dispute between the former minister and the OSP—one that has grown increasingly complex since Ofori-Atta was declared a wanted person earlier this year.
Court Says Requests Were “Unnecessary”; Fines Former Minister GHS 5,000
In a brief but firm ruling, the court held that the documents sought by Ofori-Atta were “unnecessary” for the determination of the matter before it.
The presiding judge further described the application as an attempt that “wasted the court’s time,” awarding costs of GHS 5,000 against the former finance minister.
The substantive ruling on Ofori-Atta’s broader request to amend his original writ has been adjourned to December 12, 2025.
The OSP, reacting shortly after the ruling in a public statement, confirmed that the dismissal forms part of several civil actions Ofori-Atta has initiated to fight his designation as a wanted person and the arrest warrant that underpins that status.
A Prolonged Clash Between Ken Ofori-Atta and the OSP
The OSP declared Ofori-Atta a wanted person in February 2025 after he failed to honour an invitation for questioning over suspected wrongdoing in relation to the controversial revenue assurance contracts between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd (SML).
Ofori-Atta’s lawyers later submitted a medical report claiming he was receiving treatment in the United States, but the OSP rejected it as inadequate.
A Brief Removal—Then Reinstatement
Following assurances that he would return to Ghana to cooperate with investigators, his name was temporarily removed from the wanted list.
However, the OSP reinstated him after he allegedly failed to show up on the agreed date.
Simultaneously, Ofori-Atta has been resisting an INTERPOL Red Notice issued at the request of Ghanaian authorities.
His lawyers have described the notice as both unlawful and politically tainted.
OSP Files 78 Criminal Charges Against Ofori-Atta and Seven Others
On November 18, 2025, the OSP filed 78 counts against Ofori-Atta and seven other persons tied to the GRA–SML transaction.
The charges, registered under case number CR/0106/2026 at the High Court’s Criminal Division, cite alleged violations of:
Section 23(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29)
Section 92(2)(b) of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663)
The OSP alleges that the accused individuals engaged in improper processes during the awarding and execution of multi-million-cedi revenue assurance contracts.
Separate Legal Battle
The legal drama escalated further on November 24, 2025, when Ofori-Atta’s lawyers wrote to the OSP accusing it of misleading the public about the status of the INTERPOL Red Notice issued against him.
According to his legal team: the Red Notice was issued on June 5, 2025, while Ofori-Atta was undergoing surgery in Minnesota, USA.
On June 11, they petitioned INTERPOL’s Commission for Control of Files (CCF) to delete the notice, citing violations of Articles 2 and 3 of INTERPOL’s Constitution.
The CCF admitted the application on June 24, allowing further submissions.
On November 17, the notice was temporarily removed from INTERPOL’s website.
On November 19, the CCF confirmed provisional suspension of the notice pending a full review.
In contrast, the OSP has insisted that such removals are often “routine redactions” and has urged the public to disregard claims of suspension—an assertion Ofori-Atta’s lawyers describe as “misrepresentation” and “politically damaging.”
A Case That Continues To Evolve
With multiple court cases running concurrently—criminal charges, human rights suits, and international legal challenges— Ofori-Atta’s legal troubles remain far from resolved.
Tuesday’s decision adds yet another layer to a tangled battle that has drawn heavy public scrutiny, especially given his former role as head of the economic management and the politically sensitive nature of the SML controversy.
The next major development is expected on December 12, 2025, when the Human Rights Court will issue its ruling on the former minister’s request to amend his original writ.
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