The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has revealed that fresh and potentially game-changing evidence uncovered during a raid on Strategic Mobilis
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has revealed that fresh and potentially game-changing evidence uncovered during a raid on Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) has temporarily slowed efforts to extradite former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, who is facing 78 criminal charges related to controversial revenue assurance contracts.
The clarification comes amid widespread public confusion following reports that INTERPOL had withdrawn the OSP’s Red Notice request for the former minister.
Critics speculated that the supposed withdrawal stemmed from legal weaknesses or procedural errors on the part of the OSP.
But according to Samuel Darko, the OSP’s Director of Strategy, Research and Communication, the real reason for the pause lies in newly unearthed evidence discovered during a comprehensive search of SML’s offices—a search that has opened a new investigative frontier in the long-running scandal.
How the SML–GRA Contract Became A National Flashpoint
The controversy dates back some years, when the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) awarded a series of multi-million-dollar revenue assurance contracts to SML.
These contracts were intended to monitor petroleum volumes, track downstream revenue, strengthen customs oversight, and reduce leakages.
Instead, they became the centre of public outrage after media investigations and parliamentary scrutiny suggested that:
Some contract components lacked proper procurement processes
The financial value of the contracts ballooned far beyond initial estimates
Claimed services—especially those involving digital monitoring—did not correspond to actual deliverables
The state may have paid for services that were either duplicated or not rendered at all.
It was against this backdrop that the OSP launched a sweeping corruption and procurement investigation targeting senior government officials, SML executives, and associated entities.
New Evidence Too Critical To Ignore
Speaking on GTV on Saturday, November 22, 2025, Sammy Darko said the search at SML yielded materials “significant enough to warrant a full pause” in the extradition process.
Because the OSP’s forensic laboratory is not fully operational, some of the evidence—believed to include digital records, financial trails, and hard-copy documents—must undergo foreign forensic examination.
The Attorney General was therefore formally notified to temporarily halt the extradition process so investigators could authenticate and integrate the fresh findings into their docket.
Sammy Darko stressed that the slowdown is not an admission of weakness or unpreparedness. Rather, it is part of building a prosecutable, airtight case.
Red Notice Confusion: INTERPOL Did Not Withdraw It
Addressing the public debate, Darko insisted that the INTERPOL Red Notice for Ken Ofori-Atta remains active.
He explained that although the notice was temporarily removed from public search platforms following a challenge filed by Ofori-Atta’s lawyers, it has not been cancelled.
If the former minister enters certain jurisdictions—including the United States or the United Kingdom—he will still be subject to automatic arrest, Darko stated.
Legal Practitioners Caution OSP Against “Public Battles”
While the OSP defended its pace and procedures, legal practitioner and NDC communicator Nii Kpakpo Samoa Addo urged the institution to remain grounded and avoid publicly engaging before investigations are fully complete.
Appearing on Channel One TV’s The Big Issue, he argued that premature communication can create unnecessary confusion and fuel suspicions of political motives.
“If your investigations are not complete, they are not complete,” he said. “Moving before you are ready invites doubt. Nobody can pressure you into rushing a case of this magnitude.”
78 Charges And Arraignment Set for Monday
Despite the temporary extradition pause, the OSP is moving forward with formal prosecution.
It has filed 78 charges against Ken Ofori-Atta and seven others linked to the SML–GRA contracts.
The accused persons are set to be arraigned on Monday, November 24, 2025, marking one of the most significant corruption trials involving a former finance minister in the political history.
Charges reportedly include: Procurement breaches, Causing financial loss to the state and conflict of interest.
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