The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has officially declared former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta a fugitive, citing his involvement in multiple financial misconduct cases, including the controversial National Cathedral project and dealings with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd (SML).
In a press briefing on February 12, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng stated, “The fugitive’s name is Kenneth Ofori-Atta,” confirming the declaration. Ofori-Atta is wanted for allegedly causing significant financial loss to the state through several high-profile transactions.
One of the major cases is tied to the construction of the National Cathedral, a project promised by former President Akufo-Addo. In 2020, Ofori-Atta authorized the release of ¢142.7 million in state funds for the project’s activities at the request of the President’s Chief of Staff.
Despite the significant allocation, the construction of the Cathedral remains stalled due to reported mismanagement of funds by those in charge, including Rev. Kusi Boateng, the chair of the project’s board of trustees. Ofori-Atta is accused of releasing the funds without proper consideration for value for money and accountability.
In another case, Ofori-Atta is implicated in a 2019 deal between the GRA and SML, where over 1 billion Ghanaian cedis were paid to SML for various auditing and verification services without approval from the Public Procurement Authority, as required by the constitution. This payment, made under Ofori-Atta’s supervision, has been criticized for causing a financial loss to the state.
The OSP’s declaration of Ofori-Atta as a fugitive comes after numerous calls from anti-corruption agencies and civil society groups, including the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), to prosecute the former finance minister. These organizations have also demanded that the money involved be refunded.
The OSP has taken over the investigation of this and other corruption-related cases, further intensifying efforts to address financial mismanagement in the country. As of now, Ofori-Atta remains a fugitive from justice, with authorities seeking his whereabouts.
