The Office of the Special Prosecutor has formally issued a wanted poster for Ken Ofori-Atta, the former Minister of Finance, after declaring him a wanted fugitive and a suspect in corruption-related activities.
The wanted notice, which the OSP shared on its social media platforms, included the possible location and description of the former minister, who is believed to be Ghana’s longest-serving finance minister, having served for over seven years during the government of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The notice listed the crimes for which he had been declared wanted as follows:
“This suspect is wanted to answer charges in respect of several cases, including the Strategic Mobilisation-GRA Contract, Termination of ECG-BXC contract, National Cathedral payments, Ambulance Procurement contract, and Tax Refund Account Utilisation.”
“Anyone with information on the whereabouts of this individual should alert the Office by calling or sending a WhatsApp message to 0554494499/0554484488,” it concluded.
However, the release of the poster has sparked anger and outrage among certain members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who have expressed their disapproval of the Special Prosecutor's approach to handling the matter.
GhanaWeb looks at the reactions of some notable NPP figures following the wanted poster of Ofori-Atta.
Salam Mustapha
The National Youth Organizer of the NPP has characterized the OSP's pursuit of the former minister as an act of 'hatred' and a political gimmick. He asserts that the OSP's actions are aimed at tarnishing and damaging Ofori-Atta's reputation while rejecting claims that the former minister has fled, as is being suggested.
“I understand politics and I know how to play it. But what I don't know is hatred. Especially stiff-neck hatred. That's carnal. There's preponderance of evidence that the former finance minister has not absconded from the country, yet there's a deliberate and concerted effort to drag him into the mud. For what reason, I can't just fathom.
“Sometime in October last year, I tried so many times to meet up with Ken but he was constantly unavailable. He came in briefly to vote and left afterward to continue with his treatment. There are documented correspondences from him on his whereabouts yet this whole shenanigan is thrown at him. Knowing Ken Ofori-Atta he will rather come answer questions to his actions than run away. Let's not be too quick to destroy when there's no reason to. In all of this, power is transient and tomorrow is pregnant,” he wrote on Facebook on February 17, 2025.
Palgrave Boakye-Danquah
A former government spokesperson has criticized the OSP, accusing it of acting in 'bad faith' by declaring Ofori-Atta a fugitive. He argues that this declaration has put the former minister's life at significant risk, as well as jeopardized his reputation.
Kofi Ofosu Nkansah
The former NEIP boss has called on Ghanaians to condemn the actions of the OSP, accusing him of abusing his powers. He clarified that Ofori-Atta, through his lawyers, has been actively cooperating with the prosecutor's office, and therefore described the OSP's actions as 'shameful.'
“You don't use a national office for this when the person is collaborating with your office through his lawyers and you haven't provided any evidence to the contrary that he is not at the said US Hospital. Should he leave the procedure he is undergoing and come and die? This is really shameful and all well-meaning Ghanaians must condemn this,” he posted on Facebook on February 17.
Akosua Manu
The 2024 NPP parliamentary candidate for Adentan has expressed strong disapproval of the OSP, asserting her belief that his actions concerning Ofori-Atta are an attempt to divert public attention from the real issues currently facing the country.
“When you first announced this, even those who disagree and loathe KOA pointed out the mistakes in your presser. First-year law students and freshly minted lawyers slammed you for saying he was a FUGITIVE when the same had not been established. Right after your presser the overwhelming evidence of your office engaging with his lawyers and subsequent correspondence was exposed. All that doesn’t matter, I guess. Maybe this is to seize our attention for the day while other issues are brushed under the carpet. Stay very alert patriots. Stay alert,” she posted on Facebook.
Krobea Kwabena Asante
An aide to the former vice president has cautioned the OSP, describing his actions as spiteful.
He revealed that the former minister's lawyers had written to the OSP, yet only minutes later, the OSP published a poster declaring him wanted, an action he has strongly condemned.
“OSP should stop his pettiness. A letter from Ken Ofori-Atta’s lawyers was received by the Special Prosecutor's office this morning. Barely 30 minutes later he started throwing his toys out of the pram with this public notice on Facebook that Ghana’s former finance minister is a wanted man. No finesse tweaaaa,” he posted.
Kwasi Kwarteng
The former Ministry of Education spokesperson, responding to the wanted poster of Ofori-Atta, expressed the view that the OSP is weaponizing the country's laws to tarnish the reputation of the former minister.
"There is no greater tyranny than that which is carried out under the guise of law and in the name of justice." – Montesquieu.
“The law should serve as a means to upholding justice, not as a weapon to destroy the reputation of others,” he wrote on X on February 17.
MAG/EK
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