We Want Ofori-Atta to Appear Physically – OSP Rejects Virtual Appearance Request
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has firmly rejected a request from the legal team of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta for him to appear virtually for questioning, citing health-related challenges. The OSP insists on his physical presence.
At a press briefing on June 2, 2025, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng stated that his office remains resolute on requiring Mr. Ofori-Atta to appear in person.
“This office has always requested his attendance, and we have made it clear to him that we are unwilling to waive that requirement. We want him here physically, and we insist on it,” Mr. Agyebeng said.
He stressed that the OSP is not prepared to accommodate any form of remote appearance.
“If we were open to taking any statement from Ken Ofori-Atta in absentia, we would have done so in February—not waited until June 2, 2025,” he added.
Mr. Agyebeng further emphasized that suspects do not have the right to dictate the terms of a criminal investigation.
“A suspect in a criminal investigation does not pick and choose how the investigative body should conduct its inquiries or decide what methods suit his convenience. We will not countenance this conduct—not in this case.”
Background
Ken Ofori-Atta is under investigation by the OSP for five key matters arising during his tenure as Finance Minister, including:
- Contractual arrangements involving Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) related to petroleum and mineral revenue assurance.
- The termination of a contract between the Electricity Company of Ghana and Beijing Xiao Cheng Technology (BXC).
- Procurement and financial issues linked to the National Cathedral project.
- A Ministry of Health contract for the procurement and maintenance of 307 ambulances with Service Ghana Auto Group Limited.
- The handling and disbursement of funds from the GRA’s Tax P-Fund Account.
In January 2025, the OSP formally summoned Mr. Ofori-Atta to appear in person on February 10, 2025. His legal team responded that he was abroad indefinitely for medical treatment and offered to represent him in his absence. The OSP rejected the indefinite absence claim, demanded a specific return date, and warned of legal consequences if he failed to comply.
On February 10, his lawyers submitted a doctor’s note indicating that he was undergoing medical tests and possibly surgery, with no confirmed return date. Two days later, the OSP declared him a fugitive from justice and initiated steps for an arrest warrant.
On February 18, 2025, Mr. Ofori-Atta appealed to the OSP for the removal of his name from the wanted list and provided a definite return date in May 2025. The OSP accepted the assurance and temporarily removed his name from the list.
In March 2025, Mr. Ofori-Atta filed a lawsuit against the Special Prosecutor, seeking compensation for what he described as an unlawful declaration and demanded the removal of related publications from the OSP’s social media channels.
The Human Rights Court in Accra heard an interim application on March 28, 2025, where Mr. Ofori-Atta sought to prevent the OSP from declaring him wanted again.
Following these legal proceedings, the OSP issued a final deadline of June 2, 2025, for Mr. Ofori-Atta to report in person at its headquarters.
Credit: ghanaweb.com
