Ghana’s Special Prosecutor has dismissed a request by former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to appear virtually in a corruption probe, insisting that he must show up in person to face investigators.
In a strongly worded statement to journalists in Accra on Monday, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng said his office would not allow Mr Ofori-Atta to “pick and choose” how investigations are conducted.
“We want him here physically, and we insist on it,” Agyebeng said. “A suspect in a criminal investigation does not dictate the terms of their cooperation. This is not a negotiation.”
The move deepens a months-long standoff between the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and Mr Ofori-Atta, who has failed to honour multiple summons over corruption allegations stemming from his tenure as Finance Minister.
Mr Agyebeng confirmed that the OSP is now pursuing international avenues to secure Mr Ofori-Atta’s arrest, including a formal request for extradition and the triggering of an INTERPOL Red Notice.
The former minister, once a central figure in Ghana’s economic leadership, had previously been removed from the OSP’s wanted list after what officials described as a temporary agreement. However, that deal appears to have collapsed, with Mr Ofori-Atta now being labelled a fugitive after missing the June 2 deadline to appear.
“This office has always requested his attendance, and we made it clear that we would not waive it,” the Special Prosecutor added. “If we were willing to accept a statement from him remotely, we would have done so months ago not now.”
The OSP’s firm stance underscores the broader challenges facing Ghana’s anti-corruption efforts, particularly in holding high-profile figures accountable. While Mr Ofori-Atta has yet to comment publicly on the latest developments, legal experts say the extradition process could prove lengthy and politically sensitive.
This case continues to draw national attention, raising questions not just about the former minister’s whereabouts, but also about the future of accountability in Ghana’s public institutions.
