The criminal trial of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta is expected to resume on Thursday, August 27, 2026, following a Supreme Court decision upholding the constitutional validity of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) Act, 2017 (Act 959).

The OSP announced the date in a Facebook post on Monday, August 10, signalling the return of proceedings in a number of corruption cases that had been placed on hold since April this year.

The Supreme Court ruling effectively removes a major legal hurdle that had raised questions about the OSP’s authority to investigate and prosecute corruption-related offences without prior authorisation.

The suspension of proceedings followed an earlier High Court decision that questioned aspects of the OSP’s prosecutorial mandate.

28 counts against Ofori-Atta

Mr Ofori-Atta is standing trial on 28 counts of corruption and corruption-related offences arising from the OSP’s investigation into revenue assurance contracts between Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

The former minister was initially charged together with seven other persons on 78 counts in November 2025. The charges were subsequently amended, resulting in Mr Ofori-Atta facing 28 counts, while the other accused persons face separate charges linked to the case.

Those also before the court include former GRA Commissioners-General Emmanuel Kofi Nti and Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah; former Customs Commissioners Isaac Crentsil and Kwadwo Damoah; SML Chief Executive Officer Evans Adusei; and former Chief of Cabinet to Mr Ofori-Atta, Ernest Darko Akore.

The prosecution alleges that the accused persons were involved in various acts of corruption and corruption-related offences connected with the SML-GRA revenue assurance arrangements.

The case has attracted considerable public interest because of the financial implications of the contracts and the roles allegedly played by officials and private-sector actors in their implementation.

Ofori-Atta's US residency

The former Finance Minister has also secured permanent residency in the United States after a US Immigration Court approved his application for adjustment of status.

His lawyers announced in June 2026 that his application for a Green Card had been approved following immigration proceedings concerning his status in the United States.

The development, however, has been the subject of public discussion in Ghana, particularly because the OSP has been pursuing steps connected with his return to Ghana to face the criminal proceedings.

The OSP has rejected suggestions that the US immigration decision constituted a finding on the merits of the corruption case against Mr Ofori-Atta.

The anti-corruption agency explained that it was not a party to the US immigration proceedings and that its involvement in the United States relates to extradition proceedings being pursued through the Attorney-General.

It further clarified that the extradition documents were not before the US Immigration Court.

The OSP has consequently cautioned against treating findings made in the immigration proceedings as a determination of the credibility of the evidence or allegations underpinning the criminal case in Ghana.

With the Supreme Court having now upheld the OSP Act, attention is expected to shift to the resumption of the substantive proceedings against Mr Ofori-Atta and the other accused persons.