Former Ghanaian Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, was declared a wanted fugitive on Wednesday by the country’s Special Prosecutor, who accused him of corruption. Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng stated that Ofori-Atta has two options: return to the jurisdiction voluntarily or face enforced return by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP). Ofori-Atta is accused of causing financial loss to the state through several high-profile government transactions.
Read Also-President Mahama Fires Director of Unreal Keta Port
Ofori-Atta, who served under former President Nana Akufo-Addo, is specifically accused of authorizing the release of significant state funds for the construction of the National Cathedral in Accra. The cathedral project was initially envisioned by Akufo-Addo as a tribute to God following his 2016 election victory. It was meant to be funded privately. However, reports claim that in 2019, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) paid over $83 million to SML for various audit and verification services under Ofori-Atta’s supervision. The payments were allegedly made without the necessary approval from the Public Procurement Authority, raising concerns over the transparency and value for money of the contract.
Anti-corruption groups, including the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), have long called for accountability, filing lawsuits against Ofori-Atta, the GRA, and SML. They demand a refund of public funds and legal action over the alleged misuse of state resources.
The OSP has now taken over the investigation and is actively pursuing legal action against the former finance minister. Special Prosecutor Agyebeng has noted that Ofori-Atta has shown no intention of returning voluntarily to face charges. Authorities have not revealed his current whereabouts.
The new administration under President John Mahama has pledged a zero-tolerance approach to corruption and is committed to pursuing former government officials for alleged corrupt practices. The government’s “Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL)” initiative, designed to retrieve wrongfully acquired state assets, has already received over 2,000 complaints regarding officials from the previous Akufo-Addo government.
