Ken Ofori-Atta, Ghana’s former finance minister, has been officially placed on Interpol’s Red Notice list following multiple allegations of corruption and misuse of public office for personal gain. This development marks a significant escalation in the ongoing investigations led by Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) into high-profile corruption cases linked to his tenure in government.
The Interpol Red Notice, made public on June 5, 2025, describes Ofori-Atta as a 65-year-old Ghanaian male born in Accra on November 7, 1959. The notice indicates he is wanted on charges of “using public office for profit,” a serious accusation that encompasses several alleged corrupt activities during his time as finance minister. Interpol’s notice serves as a global alert to law enforcement agencies across its 196 member countries, requesting the location and provisional arrest of Ofori-Atta pending extradition or voluntary surrender.
The allegations against Ofori-Atta involve a series of controversial contracts and financial mismanagement issues. Among the most prominent is the procurement and financial handling of the National Cathedral project, a highly contentious initiative that reportedly consumed around $58 million of public funds but has yielded little progress beyond an excavated site. Other cases under scrutiny include contracts related to Ghana’s petroleum revenues, the termination of a contract between the Electricity Company of Ghana and Beijing Xiao Cheng Technology, ambulance procurement deals for the Ministry of Health, and the management of funds from the Ghana Revenue Authority’s Tax P-Fund account.
The OSP formally notified Ofori-Atta in January 2025 that he was a suspect in five separate corruption cases and requested his presence for interrogation on February 10. However, Ofori-Atta’s legal team responded that he was abroad indefinitely for medical treatment and offered to represent him in his absence. The OSP rejected this, emphasizing that legal counsel cannot answer criminal charges on behalf of a suspect and demanding a firm return date. When Ofori-Atta failed to appear, the OSP declared him a fugitive from justice in February and activated an arrest warrant. Although Ofori-Atta later appealed with a proposed return date in May, and his name was temporarily removed from the wanted list, ongoing legal challenges and his failure to appear have led to the renewed issuance of the Interpol Red Notice.
Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng has been vocal about the OSP’s commitment to holding Ofori-Atta accountable. At a press briefing in Accra, Agyebeng stated, “We will not countenance this conduct, not in this case,” underscoring the seriousness with which the OSP is pursuing the investigations. The office insists that Ofori-Atta must appear in person to face the charges, rejecting his legal team’s requests for virtual interrogations on medical grounds.
Ofori-Atta himself has denied wrongdoing and claims he has been subjected to unlawful treatment. In March 2025, he filed a lawsuit against the OSP and the Special Prosecutor, seeking to remove related content from the OSP’s social media platforms and alleging that his rights were being violated. Despite these legal maneuvers, the issuance of the Interpol Red Notice signals a firm stance by Ghanaian authorities and international cooperation efforts to bring the former minister to justice.
His current whereabouts remain unclear, though reports suggest he is receiving medical treatment in the United States. The Red Notice facilitates international law enforcement collaboration to locate and detain him, pending extradition proceedings to Ghana.
In conclusion, Ken Ofori-Atta’s addition to the Interpol Red Notice list highlights the intensifying fight against corruption in Ghana, particularly involving high-ranking officials. The case underscores the challenges of prosecuting alleged financial crimes that cross borders and the increasing role of international law enforcement mechanisms in supporting national justice systems. As investigations continue, the world watches closely how this Ghana navigates high-profile legal battle and the broader implications for governance and accountability in the region.