No One Is Above the Law — Special Prosecutor

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has reignited its pursuit of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, declaring him wanted once again after his failure to comply with summons by the agreed deadline. Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng, speaking at a press briefing on Monday, June 2, firmly defended the move, stressing that no individual, regardless of rank or influence, is above the law.

“There’s nothing special about declaring someone wanted,” Mr. Agyebeng said, countering criticisms that the action singled out Mr. Ofori-Atta. “Is this the first time someone in this country has been declared wanted? All the persons previously declared wanted before him, were they not human?”

He underscored that the process is straightforward and routine, dismissing any notion of secrecy or favoritism. Drawing parallels, he reminded Ghanaians of the OSP’s investigation into former President John Mahama, stating that even heads of state are not immune to scrutiny.

“We investigated a former president, have you forgotten? On August 8, 2024, I came right into this room and told Ghanaians our findings and conclusions. A former president was served with the same process. He showed up, much less a former Finance Minister,” he added.

Mr. Agyebeng emphasized the OSP’s principle-driven approach: “We do not regard persons, titles, or status in life. Everyone is the same to us. No one is beyond our purview. Everyone is fair game if we think you are our suspect in a criminal enquiry.”

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Rejecting the idea that suspects can dictate terms of investigations, the Special Prosecutor made it clear that compliance must follow legal procedures. “A suspect in a criminal matter does not choose how the investigative authority should go about investigating, when he wants to appear, or in what way he wants to appear. We do not take caution statements online from foreign jurisdictions.”

The re-declaration comes after Mr. Ofori-Atta failed to appear at the OSP headquarters by the stipulated deadline, breaching an earlier agreement that had temporarily lifted his wanted status. The OSP originally declared him a "fugitive from justice" in February 2025 due to repeated failure to respond to summons relating to multiple corruption allegations.

These allegations center around his involvement in contracts with Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) for revenue assurance, financial controversies linked to the National Cathedral project, and other dealings during his tenure as Finance Minister from 2017 to 2024.

With this latest move, the OSP signals that it will pursue accountability relentlessly, reinforcing the message that justice in Ghana is blind to status or position.