The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has formally responded to the permanent deletion of the INTERPOL Red Notice against former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta. In an official statement released on February 13, 2026, the OSP maintained that the international body’s decision does not impact the merits of its domestic criminal case. The OSP emphasized that it remains “guided solely by law and evidence,” dismissing suggestions that the investigation is politically motivated. This stance underscores the office’s “Exceptional” mandate to investigate and prosecute high-level corruption within the 2026 judicial framework.
The OSP has notably filed 78 corruption-related charges against Mr. Ofori-Atta at the Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra. These charges involve allegations of “Using Public Office for Profit,” procurement breaches, and financial misconduct. Central to the case are investigations into contractual arrangements between the Ghana Revenue Authority and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML), as well as financial transactions related to the National Cathedral project. The OSP alleges that these activities resulted in significant financial losses to the state, characterizing the deals as a “criminal enterprise” designed to benefit specific private entities.
Furthermore, the OSP provided a update on the status of the former minister, who has been in the United States for medical treatment since January 2025. Despite being declared a fugitive by the OSP in February 2025, Mr. Ofori-Atta was reportedly arrested by U.S. authorities on January 6, 2026. The OSP confirmed that a formal summons issued by the High Court has been transmitted through diplomatic channels for service in the U.S. This process is intended to secure his physical appearance in court to answer the 78 counts filed against him and his technical adviser, Ernest Darko Akore.
While INTERPOL’s Commission for the Control of Files (CCF) cited “polarised political statements” as a reason for deleting the Red Notice, the OSP maintains that the international alert is no longer a prerequisite for justice. Since the former minister’s location is confirmed and extradition processes have already been initiated, the OSP views the Red Notice as functionally redundant. The legal battle is expected to be one of the most significant in Ghana’s history, as the OSP continues to coordinate with international judicial partners to ensure accountability for the 2017–2024 fiscal period.
