The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has removed former Finance Minister Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta from its list of wanted persons after he confirmed a definite date for his voluntary return to Ghana.
Mr. Ofori-Atta was declared a fugitive on February 12, 2025, after failing to indicate a reasonable timeframe for his return, despite being directed by the OSP to appear for questioning over suspected corruption and related offences. However, on February 18, he formally communicated through his lawyers his decision to return on a specific date.
The OSP, in a statement, described this as a significant shift from his previous position of remaining outside the jurisdiction indefinitely. Following this development, the Special Prosecutor adjusted the scheduled date for his appearance to align with his confirmed return.
“Consequently, Mr. Ofori-Atta has been removed from the OSP’s list of wanted persons and is no longer considered a fugitive from justice, provided he adheres to his stated timeline,” the OSP noted.
The statement further warned that should he fail to return as agreed or miss his rescheduled appointment, he would be reinstated on the wanted list, and legal measures would be taken to ensure his appearance before the OSP.
Mr. Ofori-Atta, who served as Finance Minister from 2017 to 2023, is under investigation for alleged corruption. His removal from the list follows heightened public interest in his whereabouts and willingness to cooperate with the OSP’s probe.
The OSP reaffirmed its commitment to due process and accountability in tackling corruption-related cases.
