Accra, Feb 18, GNA – The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has removed Mr. Kenneth Ofori-Atta, the former Minister of Finance, from its list of wanted persons.
Additionally, the OSP no longer considers Mr. Ofori-Atta a fugitive from justice, pending his voluntary return to the jurisdiction on his stated date, according to a statement signed by Mr. Kissi Agyebeng, the Special Prosecutor, on Tuesday, February 18, 2025.
“If Mr. Ofori-Atta fails to voluntarily return to the jurisdiction on his stated date, and if he fails to attend the OSP on the rescheduled date, he shall be re-entered on the OSP’s list of wanted persons. The OSP shall then consider him a fugitive from justice and take all necessary legal steps to secure his return to the jurisdiction and ensure his attendance at the OSP at our discretion,” the statement noted.
The OSP confirmed that it had received communication from Mr. Ofori-Atta through his lawyers, in which he provided a definite date for his voluntary return to the jurisdiction.
“This marks a major shift from Mr. Ofori-Atta’s previous intention of remaining outside the jurisdiction indefinitely,” the statement added.
It further stated that the OSP had accepted Mr. Ofori-Atta’s request, considering his proposed return date reasonable under the circumstances.
The Special Prosecutor had declared the former Minister of Finance a wanted person and fugitive from justice on February 12, 2025.
The basis for the declaration was that Mr. Ofori-Atta had failed to indicate a reasonable time for his return to the jurisdiction, despite being informed by the OSP that he was a suspect in multiple corruption-related cases, for which he had been directed to physically appear before the OSP in Accra on a specified date and time for questioning.
More to follow.
GNA