Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta is at the centre of a renewed and deepening legal battle with Ghana’s anti-corruption agency, the Office of the
Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta is at the centre of a renewed and deepening legal battle with Ghana’s anti-corruption agency, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), as both sides issue conflicting claims over his medical status, legal obligations, and willingness to comply with investigative procedures.
At the heart of the standoff is the OSP’s decision to declare Ofori-Atta a fugitive from justice on June 2, 2025, citing his alleged refusal to respond to multiple summonses in connection with several high-stakes corruption investigations.
The Office has also renewed its request for INTERPOL to issue a Red Notice for his arrest and extradition from the United States, where he is currently receiving medical treatment.
But Ofori-Atta, through his legal team and now via official medical documentation, insists he is not evading justice, but undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.
A medical letter dated May 14, 2025, and issued by Dr. Ahmed Abdalrhim at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, confirms that the former minister has been diagnosed with the illness and is scheduled to undergo surgery on June 13 under the care of Dr. Paras Shah of the Department of Urology.
The letter also outlines that Ofori-Atta will require a post-operative recovery period before being medically cleared to travel.
His legal team argues that these facts render the OSP’s demands unreasonable and its fugitive designation legally flawed and unethical.
Legal Dispute
The dispute between the former finance minister and the OSP has been simmering since January 2025, when the Special Prosecutor named Ofori-Atta as a suspect in five major financial investigations.
These include:
1. Petroleum and Minerals Revenue Assurance Deal – scrutiny over a contract between the Ghana Revenue Authority and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd.
2. ECG-BXC Contract Termination – involving potential abuse of office and financial loss to the state.
3. National Cathedral Disbursements – probing alleged procurement breaches and fiscal irregularities.
4. Ambulance Procurement Deal – focusing on suspected overpricing and procurement violations.
5. GRA Tax Refund Fund Mismanagement – involving accusations of the diversion or misuse of state refund funds.
Ofori-Atta was first summoned for questioning in February 2025. His legal team responded that he was undergoing medical evaluation in the U.S. and could not attend in person.
A warrant was briefly issued on February 12 but was later suspended after the defence team communicated a tentative return date of May.
That arrangement appears to have broken down, prompting the OSP to reissue its declaration on June 2.
Medical Documents
As the OSP revived efforts to compel Ofori-Atta’s appearance, his legal team released medical documents to the media showing a diagnosis of prostate cancer and confirmation of a scheduled surgery.
They maintain that these reports had also been submitted to the Human Rights Court, where Ofori-Atta has filed a separate suit challenging the legality of being publicly branded a fugitive while court proceedings are ongoing.
His lawyers, led by Frank Davies, argue that the OSP’s actions not only violate due process but also amount to public harassment of a sick man.
The Special Prosecutor knows the bed Ken is lying on. If he thinks he can arrest him, he should go and bring him, Davies said.
OSP Challenges Authenticity
But the Special Prosecutor’s Office has strongly refuted claims that it received any certified medical reports directly from Ofori-Atta or his legal team. In a public statement issued on June 3, 2025, the OSP said:
“Neither Mr. Ofori-Atta nor his lawyers have submitted any such letter to the OSP… It is notable that this alleged hospital letter has been circulated through the media rather than submitted to the law enforcement agency actively investigating him.”
The OSP maintains that only an informal notice of a change in medical condition has been received, and that no certified medical documentation has officially confirmed that Ofori-Atta is incapacitated or unable to travel.
In a press briefing, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng remarked, “Unless formally deemed incapacitated, all suspects must appear in person. The claim of illness does not excuse accountability.”
The OSP further noted that under its mandate, all suspects, regardless of health status, are expected to present themselves for questioning unless formally excused through court order or valid certification.
Denial of Virtual Participation
Amid the impasse, Ofori-Atta’s lawyers proposed a virtual hearing, invoking Ghana’s Electronic Transactions Act, which allows digital communication in legal and administrative matters.
However, the OSP rejected the proposal, stating that physical presence is a critical requirement for the investigations in question, and that virtual proceedings could not be used as a substitute unless the individual was legally incapacitated.
This rejection further inflamed tensions, as Ofori-Atta’s team maintains that digital engagement would have allowed him to fulfill his legal obligations without compromising his medical recovery.
Court Battle Over Fugitive Label
Meanwhile, a related case is being pursued in the Human Rights Court, where Ofori-Atta is challenging the legality of being declared a fugitive.
Filed in March 2025, the suit demands the retraction of public notices issued by the OSP, arguing that such branding violates his constitutional rights and presumes guilt before trial.
A preliminary hearing was held on March 28, and the case is expected to continue on June 18, 2025.
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