Trial of Ken Ofori-Atta and seven others opens in Accra

The high-profile criminal trial involving former Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta and seven other accused persons is set to commence today, Thursday, December 11, 2025, marking the start of one of the most closely watched prosecutions in recent years.

The case, built on a 78-count indictment, centres on allegations of corruption and financial loss to the state linked to government contracts awarded between 2018 and 2024.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), which is leading the prosecution, confirmed the court date in a notice posted on its official social media platforms, stating: “The trial of Kenneth Ofori-Atta and 7 others expected to start today at Criminal Court 5.”

The charges were first filed in November 2025, focusing largely on the controversial Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) contracts and associated procurement-related issues.

According to the prosecution’s filings, the accused persons, among them Ernest Darko Akore, Emmanuel Kofi Nti, Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, Isaac Crentsil, Kwadwo Damoah, Evans Adusei, and SML itself, are alleged to have authorised or benefited from irregular payments, procurement violations and other actions that prosecutors say caused substantial financial harm to the Republic.

The OSP maintains that it has complied with all legal procedures in initiating the trial and insists that public claims suggesting the prosecution is being hurried are baseless.

The office has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that each defendant’s constitutional rights are protected while also taking steps to secure their attendance in court.

Some of the accused, including Ofori-Atta, are currently outside Ghana and have cited medical reasons for their inability to be present.

The OSP says it has invoked the appropriate legal remedies to address these absences, including the issuance of summons and cooperation with international law enforcement bodies where necessary.

The start of the trial comes at a time when the very existence and mandate of the Special Prosecutor’s office are under intense national debate, with competing calls from civil society groups and lawmakers either urging its reinforcement or advocating for its dissolution.

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