Former Ghanaian Finance Minister Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori‑Atta remains at the centre of one of the country’s most high‑profile legal and political controversies as his legal team challenges an INTERPOL Red Notice issued against him amid ongoing corruption investigations.
Ofori‑Atta, who served as finance minister from 2017 to 2024, has been accused of corruption and corruption‑related offences linked to government contracts awarded during his tenure, including cases involving the Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) revenue assurance contract. �
Lawyers Contest Red Notice
In a recent interview, Ofori‑Atta’s international lawyer Enayat Qasimi said the INTERPOL Red Notice was wrongly and unjustly issued against his client, arguing that authorities were aware Ofori‑Atta was in the United States for medical treatment and that he had shown willingness to cooperate with Ghanaian law enforcement. Qasimi questioned whether Mr. Ofori‑Atta’s constitutional rights have been respected in the process. �
Qasimi insisted that the issuance of a Red Notice — a global alert requesting law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and detain a person pending extradition — was unnecessary because Ghanaian authorities already knew of Ofori‑Atta’s health situation in the U.S. and were in communication with his legal team. �
Critics Reject Political Persecution Claim
However, critics of Ofori‑Atta’s defense say the claim that he is being politically persecuted does not withstand scrutiny. Legal scholar Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare dismissed the political persecution narrative, noting that other senior figures associated with the same government, including former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo‑Addo and former Vice‑President Mahamudu Bawumia, remain in Ghana without facing similar legal obstacles. Prof. Asare argued that remaining outside the reach of Ghanaian jurisdiction undermines claims of wanting to face justice. �
Asare emphasised that the prosecution of corruption cases should be viewed independently of political affiliations and that Ofori‑Atta’s choice to stay abroad complicates the narrative of unfair treatment. �
Extradition and Ongoing Proceedings
Meanwhile, the Attorney‑General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, confirmed that a formal extradition request for Mr. Ofori‑Atta and an alleged accomplice has been submitted to the United States Department of Justice. The move is part of efforts to compel his return so he can answer the charges in person. �
Interpol had initially issued a Red Notice for Ofori‑Atta in June 2025 after he failed to appear before the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in Ghana, citing medical reasons. The Red Notice followed the OSP’s declaration of him as a fugitive due to repeated delays and non‑compliance with summonses. �
Prosecutors allege Ofori‑Atta and others conspired to influence procurement processes unfairly, violating Ghana’s Criminal Offences and Public Procurement Acts. The corruption case remains active, and legal commentators say its outcome could have broader implications for how political figures are held accountable in Ghana. �
