Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has defended his term at the Finance Ministry, claiming that he always acted in Ghana’s best interest.
According to Ken Ofori-Atta, he has always acted in the best interests of Ghana during his time at the Finance Ministry.
In an open letter dated February 26, Ken Ofori revealed, “As you know, I have worked with candour and forthrightness in my personal and professional life these past forty years”.
“As the longest-serving Finance Minister in this Republic (2017 to 2024) and encountering the most far-reaching existential crises in our lifetime, I have always acted in the best interests of Ghana and Africa, and will continue to do so.”
Ken Ofori Atta’s comment comes after the OSP accused him of causing financial loss to the state in several dealings including the construction of the famous National Cathedral and Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA’s) – Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd (SML), the loss reduction contract between ECG and Beijing Jao and Health Ministry to Service Ghana Auto Limited/Ambulances.
The former minister has in a letter finally broken his silence on the investigation against him by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
According to Ken Ofori-Atta, he is puzzled and dismayed.
He asserted that he has been in the news recently in quite a dramatic manner.
Ken Ofori-Atta further revealed he was out of Ghana on January 24, for medical reasons, when the Special Prosecutor invited him to an in-person meeting on Feb 10, 2025.
He emphasized that the OSP rejected the offer to meet with his lawyers, insisting on a firm date for his personal attendance.
Ken Ofori-Atta added, “I have been in the news recently in quite a dramatic manner. I thought it important that I share with you the facts surrounding recent events and news articles concerning me and Ghana’s Special Prosecutor. I am as puzzled and dismayed, as I suspect you must be.
“I was out of the country on January 24, for medical reasons, when the Special Prosecutor invited me to an in-person meeting for Feb 10, 2025, in connection with four “corruption and corruption related cases”. I was not the originating nor implementing Minister in any of these portfolios. I immediately responded through my lawyers, indicating my willingness to have them provide him with any information he may require to aid in his investigation, given that I will be out of the country for the next few months for medical reasons.
“The Special Prosecutor rejected the offer to meet with my lawyers, insisting on a firm date for my personal attendance. Instead on February 11th, my home was raided by armed National Security operatives. The Special Prosecutor remarked that I had staged the raid on my own home and, subsequently, launched an international campaign and declared that I was a wanted “fugitive from justice”, his letter added.
The OSP during a press conference stated, “The fugitive’s name is Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori Atta. Mr Ofori-Atta is 66 years old. He was the minister of Finance of the republic between 2017 and 2024. Mr Ofori-Atta left the jurisdiction on or around 2 January 2025.
On 24th January 2025, the OSP communicated to Mr Ofori-Atta that the OSP considered him a suspect with respect to four of the cases above. Mr Ofori-Atta was asked to attend in person on Monday 10th February 2025 at 10GMT for an interview…Mr Ofori-Atta instructed his lawyers to inform the OSP that he was out of the jurisdiction indefinitely on medical grounds…”
Meanwhile, the Office of the Special Prosecutor has removed former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta from its wanted list.
According to a statement released by the Office of the Special Prosecutor, this move was initiated after the suspect confirmed his return date to Ghana.
“Mr. Ofori-Atta has been removed from the OSP’s list of wanted persons and the OSP ceases to consider Mr. Ofori-Atta a fugitive from justice pending his voluntary return to the jurisdiction of Ghana,” part of the OSP’s statement read.
The statement however added that Mr. Ken Ofori Atta will re-enter OSP’s wanted list if he fails to appear for questioning on the scheduled date.
“If Mr Ofori-Atta fails to voluntarily return to the jurisdiction on his stated date, he shall be re-entered on the OSP’s list of wanted persons and the OSP shall then consider him a fugitive from justice and the OSP shall take all the necessary legal steps to secure his return.”
See the post below:
Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has defended his tenure at the Finance Ministry, insisting that he always acted in Ghana’s best interest.#ChannelOneNews pic.twitter.com/yleZ08ZZYI
— ChannelOne TV (@Channel1TVGHA) March 9, 2025
