Interpol has officially placed Ghana’s former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, on its Red Notice list, signaling an international request for his provisional arrest and possible extradition.
The notice, which was made public following a request from Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), seeks international assistance in locating and provisionally arresting Ofori-Atta, who is believed to be in the United States receiving medical treatment.
The Red Notice describes Ofori-Atta as a 65-year-old Ghanaian male, born on November 7, 1959, in Accra, with black hair and eyes, standing at 1.7 meters tall, and fluent in English and Twi. He is wanted on charges of “Using Public Office for Profit.”
This development follows a series of events where Ofori-Atta failed to appear before the OSP despite multiple summonses related to corruption investigations, including the National Cathedral project and a revenue assurance deal with Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd (SML). After initially being declared a fugitive in February 2025, his status was temporarily lifted when he pledged to return.
However, his failure to appear on June 2, 2025, led to the reinstatement of his fugitive status and the subsequent Interpol notice. Prior to that, Mr. Ofori-Atta had reportedly requested to attend proceedings virtually, citing ongoing medical treatment abroad.
READ: OSP Declares Ken Ofori-Atta Wanted Again Over Noncompliance
An Interpol Red Notice is not an international arrest warrant but serves as a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition. The issuance of this notice means that member countries, including the United States, are alerted to Ofori-Atta’s wanted status and may take appropriate legal action in accordance with their national laws.
READ: We’ve No Medical Records of Ken Ofori-Atta – OSP Clarifies
The OSP has indicated its intention to pursue extradition proceedings to bring Ofori-Atta back to Ghana to face the charges against him. This case continues to draw significant public and political attention, highlighting the challenges in addressing high-profile corruption allegations.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Risa Wyettey Cofie
