The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has moved to correct reports that INTERPOL had removed the Red Notice for former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, saying the matter is still under review by INTERPOL’s Commission for the Control of Files.

In a public notice issued on Wednesday, November 19, the OSP said that in October, the INTERPOL commission “notified Ghanaian authorities that accused Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta had applied for the removal of his name from INTERPOL’s Red Notice.”

The statement adds that “Ghana’s response was duly submitted on 22 October 2025.”

The OSP also said that, by a later communication, INTERPOL informed Ghanaian authorities that Mr Ofori-Atta had filed additional arguments and that Ghana had been asked to respond by 21 November 2025. As the OSP put it, “The proceedings are still pending and the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files is still studying the case.”

The clarification comes after some media reports claimed that INTERPOL had removed the Red Notice from its website, a claim that circulated widely on social media.

The report claimed that the notice had been taken down and that the decision followed investigations into the circumstances that led to the OSP’s request.

But the OSP’s notice warned the public to treat such reports with caution. In its statement, the OSP urged citizens to “disregard all publications to the contrary as borne of mischief and misinformation.” The office explained that during the pendency of the INTERPOL proceedings, “the Applicant’s name, image and details are often redacted from public view until a final determination is made.”

Background: INTERPOL Red Notice issued in June

INTERPOL first placed Mr Ofori-Atta on a Red Notice in June 2025 at the request of Ghanaian authorities after the OSP had declared him a fugitive for failing to appear for questioning, a move widely reported by international and local media.

The OSP’s public notice, however, presents a different timeline and indicates that the application for removal remains under consideration by INTERPOL’s commission.

What this means for Ofori-Atta

At present, there is no independent confirmation that INTERPOL has formally withdrawn the Red Notice; the OSP’s notice indicates only that removal proceedings have been triggered by an application from Mr Ofori-Atta and that Ghana has been asked to respond.

Read Also: OSP formally charges Ofori-Atta, SML and 6 others with 78 counts of corruption-related offences

Just this Tuesday, November 18, the Office of the Special Prosecutor officially charged Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML), and six others for corruption and corruption-related offences.

In all, there are 78 counts of corruption and corruption-related offences.

What is a Red Notice?

A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action. It is based on an arrest warrant or court order issued by the judicial authorities in the requesting country. Member countries apply their own laws in deciding whether to arrest a person.

It contains two main types of information:

Information to identify the wanted person, such as their name, date of birth, nationality, hair and eye colour, photographs and fingerprints if available.

Information related to the crime they are wanted for, which can typically be murder, rape, child abuse or armed robbery.

Red Notices are published by INTERPOL at the request of a member country, and must comply with INTERPOL’s Constitution and Rules.