The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has disclosed that the former finance minister, Kenneth Ofori-Atta, has left the country and plans not to return again. Addressing the media on Wednesday, February 12, the OSP, Kissi Agyebeng, explained that Kenneth Ofori-Atta's legal team cited medical reasons for his decision to leave the jurisdiction indefinitely.

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"On 24th January 2025, the OSP communicated to Mr Ofori-Atta,that the OSP considered him a suspect, in respect to four of the cases described above. Mr Ofori-Atta was directed to attend in person at OSP on Monday, 10th February 2025, at 10GMT for interview."By communication dated 31 January, 2025, Mr Ofori-Atta instructed his lawyers to inform the OSP that he was out of the jurisdiction indefinitely on medical grounds and that the firm will notify the OSP of his arrival in the country in need of rescheduling his personal attendance at the OSP."Further the firm offered its willingness to provide the OSP with any information the OSP may require," he noted. According to the OSP, the revelation has become necessary as all efforts to reach Ofori-Atta to appear for interrogation into corruption-related investigations have become futile. These include:

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A contractual arrangement between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited and the Ghana Revenue Authority aimed at enhancing revenue assurance in the downstream petroleum sector, upstream petroleum production, and minerals and metals value chain.

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The termination of a contract between the Electricity Company of Ghana Limited and Beijing Xhao Chen Technology BXC for distribution, loss reduction, and network improvement.

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Procurement processes, contractor engagements, and payments related to the National Cathedral project.

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Financial transactions involving a contract originally initiated by the Ministry for Special Development Initiative and later managed by the Ministry of Health for the purchase, after-sales service, and maintenance of 307 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 304 5 CDI ambulances for the National Ambulance Service.

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The disbursement and use of funds from the Ghana Revenue Authority’s tax refund account.

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