By Daniel Bampoe
Former Ghanaian Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has resurfaced in Washington D.C. despite being the subject of an Interpol Red Notice requested by the Office of the Special Prosecution (OSP).
The development has reignited public debate over accountability and the country’s ability to enforce anti-corruption laws against powerful political figures.
Ofori-Atta was spotted with his wife Prof Angela Ofori-Atta on the streets of Washington DC.
His appearance comes months after the OSP secured an Interpol Red Notice against him, branding him a fugitive from justice.
Eyewitnesses report that Ofori-Atta, who was accompanied by his wife, Angela Ofori-Atta, was casually moving about the U.S. capital with a backpack, seemingly unbothered by his legal troubles back home.
Ofori-Atta, who served as Minister of Finance from 2017 until his resignation in 2023 under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s administration, has been at the center of a string of corruption probes initiated by Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng.
The investigations revolve around five major cases:
1. Petroleum and Minerals Revenue Assurance: Allegations of irregularities in the contract between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
2. Electricity Company of Ghana Contract Termination: The controversial cancellation of a deal with Beijing Xiao Cheng Technology (BXC).
3. National Cathedral Project: Financial mismanagement and procurement breaches in the multi-million-dollar religious edifice
4. Ambulance Procurement Deal: Concerns over the supply contract of 307 ambulances under the Ministry of Special Initiatives.
5. GRA Tax P-Fund Account: Questions over the management of special accounts at the GRA.
In January 2025, the OSP formally notified Ofori-Atta that he was a suspect and directed him to appear on February 10, 2025, to assist in investigations.
Flight From Jurisdiction
Instead of complying, Ofori-Atta’s lawyers informed the OSP that their client had traveled abroad for medical treatment.
They submitted medical notes suggesting ongoing tests and possible surgery but failed to provide a specific date for his return.
The OSP rejected this excuse, stressing that criminal suspects must appear in person and that legal counsel could not substitute their presence.
On February 12, 2025, the OSP declared Ofori-Atta a fugitive from justice.
Although his lawyers later assured that he would return by May, and his name was briefly removed from the wanted list. Ofori-Atta again failed to honor a court-ordered appearance on June 2, 2025.
The OSP reinstated his fugitive status and formally requested Interpol’s intervention.
The Interpol Red Notice
The Red Notice effectively made Ofori-Atta an internationally wanted person, liable to arrest and extradition by countries that cooperate with Interpol.
However, his visible presence in Washington D.C. raises uncomfortable questions: Is Ghana’s extradition request being ignored, or are diplomatic and legal complexities shielding him?
Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng has previously warned that Ofori-Atta’s defiance undermines the rule of law.
Speaking at a press briefing, he remarked: “A suspect in a criminal investigation does not pick and choose how the investigative body conducts its investigations. We will not countenance this conduct, not in this case.”
Legal Battles And Public Pressure
Ofori-Atta has challenged the OSP’s actions in court, filing a suit in March 2025 to demand compensation and an order to expunge the declaration of him as wanted.
The Human Rights Court heard the matter, but the OSP insisted it was within its powers to compel his attendance.
For now, the stalemate continues. Analysts argue that while the Red Notice carries weight, extradition is rarely straightforward, often complicated by health claims, political considerations, and the discretion of host countries.
For Ofori-Atta, the battle is far from over. His re-emergence in Washington may signal confidence in his ability to evade extradition—or a brewing diplomatic clash that could test Ghana’s anti-corruption institutions in the international arena.
