Family of Ken Ofori-Atta attacks Special Prosecutor
The family of former Minister for Finance, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, has publicly accused the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) of abusing its administrative powers and violating his fundamental human rights in the handling of an ongoing investigation.
In a press release issued by the family, they call for the withdrawal of the INTERPOL Red Notice issued against Mr. Ofori-Atta and have submitted a request to the National Central Bureau and the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files for its deletion.
The family cited several concerns including:
1. Deliberate suppression and manipulation of evidence by the OSP;
2. Violation of human rights, including the right to health;
3. Disregard of judicial proceedings and denial of due process;
4. Breach of administrative justice.
According to the release, following a media briefing in February which declared Mr. Ofori-Atta a wanted person, it became evident that the OSP may have manipulated evidence to procure an arrest warrant dated February 11, 2025. The family noted that the arrest warrant cited “Using public office for private profit,” and questioned how it was obtained without a filed affidavit, despite being a matter pending in court.
They noted that Mr. Ofori-Atta took the matter to the Human Rights Court in the case “Kenneth Ofori-Atta vs OSP”, citing the media briefing as unlawful and a violation of his rights, including personal liberty, freedom of movement, and access to healthcare.
The family expressed dismay over the OSP’s decision to repost a “Wanted” notice on June 2, despite being aware of Mr. Ofori-Atta’s cancer diagnosis and upcoming surgery at the Mayo Clinic in the United States. The statement emphasized that he had proposed a Video Recorded Interview (VRI), citing medical evidence and correspondence, including a biopsy result from March 21 confirming cancer and surgery scheduled for June 13.
They described the reposting of the Wanted Poster as “a premeditated theatrical stunt, a public lynching” and maintained that Mr. Ofori-Atta has not run from justice but has instead cooperated at every stage, including submitting documentation and offering virtual interviews.
The press release also listed a series of events and communications:
On February 18, 2025, the OSP agreed to an in-person interview with Mr. Ofori-Atta scheduled for June 2.
On May 27 and 28, the OSP was informed of the upcoming surgery and medical condition.
On June 2, the OSP rejected the request for a virtual interview, stating its insistence on physical attendance.
The family questioned whether this rejection met the standards of fairness and reasonableness, particularly in light of the confirmed cancer diagnosis.
They further announced that Mr. Ofori-Atta’s legal team has filed suits to challenge the arrest warrant and are querying whether key information such as the medical reports and pending court cases was disclosed to INTERPOL by the Ghanaian authorities.
The family listed eight key missteps by the OSP, including:
Use of office for vendetta and political persecution;
Suppression of evidence; Denial of procedural flexibility, Disregard for due process, Breach of professional ethics, Unlawful declaration of Mr. Ofori-Atta as a fugitive, Failure to adhere to regulatory frameworks and Violation of human rights.
Reiterating his history of cooperation with state institutions, the family mentioned that Mr. Ofori-Atta has consistently responded to legal inquiries with transparency, including proceedings by CHRAJ, the ECOWAS Court of Justice, and Ghana’s Parliament. They described claims that he is fleeing justice as “out of character, preposterous and simply not true.”
The statement concluded with a pledge that Mr. Ofori-Atta will return to Ghana after his surgery and recovery to meet with the OSP in person.
“We are confident that Mr. Ofori-Atta’s rights will be restored and when these investigations are completed, he will be acquitted in full view of our entire nation and justice will find the Hamans,” the statement said.