Ghana’s former Minister for Finance, Kenneth Ofori-Atta, is now officially a subject of global law enforcement interest, following his placement on Interpol’s Red Notice list over multiple allegations of corruption. The move comes after months of evasion and failed attempts by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to engage him in ongoing investigations into the misuse of public funds.
The Red Notice, which was issued in early June 2025, signals a major escalation in Ghana’s anti-corruption drive, now being intensified under President John Dramani Mahama’s new administration. The notice does not constitute an international arrest warrant but serves as a formal request to member countries to locate and provisionally detain the individual pending extradition or legal action.
According to Ghanaian authorities, the former minister’s name was submitted to Interpol after he failed to appear before the OSP for questioning, despite being formally notified and given multiple opportunities to engage with the investigation. The OSP alleges that Mr. Ofori-Atta left the country and failed to communicate a reasonable timeline for his return, prompting the office to declare him a fugitive from justice in February 2025.
In a February 12 statement, the Special Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that Ofori-Atta had been invited to a meeting regarding suspicions of abuse of office, conflict of interest, and breaches of procurement regulations, particularly relating to two high-profile government initiatives: the national ambulance procurement project and the controversial National Cathedral project. Despite initial contact from his legal representatives to reschedule the engagement, Ofori-Atta has since failed to reappear, triggering further legal action and the involvement of Interpol.
Among the most serious charges levelled against the former minister are irregularities in the awarding of contracts for the procurement of ambulances and financial mismanagement surrounding the National Cathedral project, which has stalled despite an estimated $58 million already disbursed from public coffers. The unfinished cathedral has become a potent symbol of alleged wasteful spending and lack of transparency under the previous administration.
Ofori-Atta’s legal team has challenged the Red Notice designation and insists that their client has not absconded. His lead counsel, Frank Davies, told local media that Mr. Ofori-Atta is currently abroad for urgent medical treatment and has communicated his situation to the OSP. Davies described the fugitive classification as “legally flawed and very condescending,” accusing the OSP of acting outside its mandate by escalating the matter prematurely.
“This move sets a dangerous precedent,” Davies said. “My client has cooperated in good faith. He is not running away from justice, and any suggestion to the contrary is an infringement of his rights.”
Nevertheless, the Special Prosecutor has defended the course of action, arguing that Ofori-Atta’s prolonged absence and failure to honor scheduled appointments effectively obstruct justice and warrant global law enforcement cooperation. “No individual is above the law,” the office said in a statement. “When one refuses to participate in lawful inquiries into public misconduct, the State has a duty to act.”
Ken Ofori-Atta served as Ghana’s Finance Minister from January 2017 until February 2024 under the leadership of then-President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. His tenure was marked by ambitious fiscal policies, but also by mounting criticisms over economic mismanagement, growing public debt, and opaque financial decisions.
In late 2022, Ghana experienced a severe economic crisis that saw the national currency, the cedi, become one of the worst-performing currencies globally. Parliament initiated a censure motion against Ofori-Atta, accusing him of gross incompetence and conflict of interest. Although he survived that political storm, public trust in his leadership sharply declined.
By December 2022, Ghana had defaulted on most of its external debt obligations, prompting a nationwide restructuring programme spearheaded by Ofori-Atta. While the move was touted by the government as a necessary reset, critics argued that the financial damage was self-inflicted, citing reckless borrowing and lack of oversight.
In February 2024, he was removed from cabinet in a major reshuffle, ending a seven-year stretch as one of the country’s most powerful economic figures. However, his post-government future quickly turned turbulent as the new Mahama administration opened fresh inquiries into several legacy projects of the Akufo-Addo era.
President John Dramani Mahama, who returned to office in January 2025, has since launched an aggressive anti-corruption campaign targeting the recovery of more than $20 billion in allegedly stolen or misused public funds. The campaign, though praised in some quarters, has also faced criticism over its perceived bias, with opponents claiming it disproportionately targets former officials of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.
Ofori-Atta’s current location remains unconfirmed, though sources close to his family suggest he may be receiving medical care in Europe. The Ghanaian government has reportedly begun diplomatic engagements with selected countries to secure his extradition, should he be located and detained.
Legal experts say the road to extradition could be complex. “The issuance of a Red Notice alone does not guarantee a return,” said Prof. Clara Amoako of the Ghana Institute of Law and Governance. “It depends heavily on the host country’s cooperation, its legal framework, and the political will to act on the request.”
The latest development has stirred intense debate in Ghana’s political and legal circles, with many viewing it as a litmus test for the Mahama government’s commitment to due process and transparency.
As the investigation unfolds, the people of Ghana—and the wider African community—will be watching closely. For a man once hailed as the architect of Ghana’s financial transformation, Ken Ofori-Atta now faces a far more sobering challenge: defending his legacy and freedom under the full scrutiny of international law.
