NPP ready to present Ofori-Atta – NPP Communicator confirms

A member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Communications Team, Benjamin Gyewu-Appiah, popularly known as Benghazi, has declared that former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta will not appear before the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) as long as former MASLOC CEO, Sedina Christine Attionu Tamakloe, remains outside Ghana.

His remarks came after the OSP reissued a wanted notice for Ken Ofori-Atta, effective June 2, 2025, due to his continued failure to honour a summons for questioning. The OSP had earlier removed him from the wanted list based on an agreement for him to appear, which he failed to honour, prompting the fresh declaration.

Ken Ofori-Atta, who served as Finance Minister between 2017 and 2024, is being investigated over several corruption allegations. These include his role in controversial contracts with Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML), matters relating to the National Cathedral project, and other financial transactions under his tenure.

Speaking during a panel discussion on Atinka TV and monitored by GhanaWeb, Gyewu-Appiah stated bluntly that Ofori-Atta is in hiding and will only be handed over if the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) facilitates the return of Sedina Tamakloe.

“Currently, we have hidden Ken Ofori-Atta in a room. If the NDC brings Sedina Tamakloe, then we will exchange them. If the NDC will not provide Sedina to face the law, then we are also not providing Ken Ofori-Atta. The NDC is not smarter than everyone in this country. Tell the Special Prosecutor that I said he should order for sense, and I will pay. The country is just wasting money on him—he hasn’t even won a single case in court,” Gyewu-Appiah said.

His comments have sparked criticism and raised concerns over interference in justice and political partisanship in anti-corruption efforts.

Sedina Tamakloe was convicted and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for causing financial loss to the state while serving as CEO of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC). She was tried in absentia after fleeing the country under the guise of seeking medical care abroad. In April 2024, the High Court in Accra issued a warrant for her arrest following an ex-parte motion filed by state prosecutors.

Deputy Attorney General Alfred Tuah-Yeboah has previously affirmed government’s intention to extradite her to serve her sentence.

Meanwhile, critics have described Gyewu-Appiah’s comments as undermining the legal system and the authority of the Special Prosecutor. Legal experts say refusing to comply with the OSP on political grounds could amount to obstruction of justice.

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