Co-Chair of the Citizens Movement Against Corruption, Edem Senanu, has backed the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s (OSP) decision to re-declare former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta as a wanted person, accusing him of deliberately avoiding accountability.
This follows Mr. Ofori-Atta’s failure to appear before the OSP on Monday, June 2, 2025, for questioning in connection with ongoing corruption investigations.
At a press conference on Monday, June 2, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng announced that the OSP has begun processes to seek an INTERPOL Red Notice to facilitate Mr. Ofori-Atta’s arrest and extradition.
This development marks a significant escalation in a standoff that has been brewing since early 2025.
The former minister is under investigation for his alleged role in several high-profile transactions during his tenure from 2017 to 2024.
These include the controversial revenue assurance contract with Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML), financial dealings related to the National Cathedral project, and other questionable procurement practices.
Initially declared wanted in February 2025 for failing to respond to a summons, Mr. Ofori-Atta was removed from the wanted list on February 18 after his legal team assured the OSP that he would return to Ghana and appear in person on June 2.
That promise, however, remains unfulfilled.
READ: OSP Declares Ken Ofori-Atta Wanted Again Over Noncompliance
In response to his failure to appear, the OSP has dismissed a request by Ofori-Atta’s lawyers for a virtual interview, citing health complications.
The office maintains that his physical presence is non-negotiable for the integrity of the investigation.
Speaking on Morning Starr with Naa Dedei Tettey, Edem Senanu criticized both Mr. Ofori-Atta and his legal team, arguing that their actions suggest an effort to dodge the legal process.
He pointed out inconsistencies in the timeline of the former minister’s medical condition.
He further questioned how Mr. Ofori-Atta appears fit enough to meet with his lawyers and pursue legal action in court, yet not well enough to be questioned in person by the OSP.
He said, “I think that if Mr Ofori-Atta is free and well then this is unfortunate. It’s happening because once again his lawyers have not engaged adequately. You know when you provide information, every credible security agency would have to do it due diligence to say that yes, this is true. So if you provide that information, say there’s a biopsy, there’s a result and he’s saying this wants to happen, there has to be sufficient time for that agency to do the cost checking, talk to people, confirm and be assured that this is really the case. I think it’s given that we had this initial discussion in January or February, to wait until four days or so to the date you were supposed to be physically present.”
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“First of all, it suggests that the other emergency where they said he was going to undergo his surgery in March or April, what happened to that? How come nobody got back to say the surgery never happened at the time they said it was happening and it’s not happening at the time when he’s supposed to be here? If you add that to the various engagements, court cases, it appears that Mr. Ofori-Atta is strong enough to be meeting his lawyers and pursuing court cases but not strong enough to be physically present to answer questions on missing money and resources. Obviously it will leave suspicions in the mind of the Special Prosecutor and his team.”
The OSP has reiterated its position that legal representation cannot substitute the presence of a suspect in criminal investigations of this magnitude, emphasizing that justice will not be compromised.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Hamdia Mohammed
