Former Ghanaian Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has officially been placed on INTERPOL’s Red Notice list, intensifying international efforts to locate and arrest him following serious corruption-related charges leveled by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
The development, made public on June 5, 2025, follows a renewed request from the OSP, led by Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng. The Red Notice, which serves as an international alert to law enforcement agencies across 195 member countries, indicates that Ofori-Atta is wanted on suspicion of “Using Public Office for Profit” — a charge that strikes at the heart of accountability in Ghana’s governance.
A Manhunt Goes Global
According to INTERPOL’s public database, Ofori-Atta is a 65-year-old Ghanaian male, born on November 7, 1959, in Accra. He is described as 1.7 metres tall, with black hair and eyes, and is fluent in English and Twi.
Sources indicate that the former minister is currently believed to be in the United States, where he is reportedly undergoing medical treatment. The Red Notice now means U.S. authorities — and law enforcement around the globe — are expected to assist in tracking, locating, and provisionally arresting him pending extradition or other legal proceedings.
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Charges Rooted in Major National Scandals
This marks the second time the OSP has declared Ofori-Atta a wanted person. Earlier this year, he was publicly branded a “fugitive from justice” after allegedly failing to respond to multiple official summonses tied to high-profile corruption investigations.
The charges stem from multiple allegations, including:
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Misuse of public office for personal gain
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Corruption and procurement breaches involving the controversial National Cathedral project
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A revenue assurance contract with Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd (SML), which has faced widespread criticism for a lack of transparency
At a press briefing held on June 2, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng confirmed that his office had formally submitted the Red Notice application to INTERPOL just 30 minutes prior to speaking with the media.
“We are seeking full international cooperation to ensure that Mr. Ofori-Atta is brought back to Ghana to face the laws of the land,” Agyebeng stated.
Public Reaction and Political Tension
The announcement has generated significant public interest and reignited national conversations about corruption, elite impunity, and political accountability. While critics of the former minister argue that the Red Notice is long overdue, some members of the opposition have accused the Mahama administration of political targeting.
Ken Ofori-Atta served as Ghana’s Finance Minister from 2017 until 2024 and was widely regarded as one of the most powerful figures in the Akufo-Addo administration. His tenure was marred by controversies over ballooning public debt, lavish borrowing, and opaque financial dealings. His handling of Ghana’s economic crisis in the years leading up to 2024 remains a subject of heated debate.
What’s Next?
With the Red Notice now in effect, Ghana’s Special Prosecutor expects swift action from INTERPOL member states. If located, Ofori-Atta could be detained and extradited to Ghana to face trial. The case marks one of the highest-profile corruption investigations in Ghana’s Fourth Republic — and may set the tone for how future political accountability will be enforced.
For now, the world watches as a once-powerful minister becomes the subject of an international manhunt.
