The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, has disclosed that former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta travelled out of the country during the political transition period following the 2024 elections.

Speaking on The KSM Show, Mr Agyebeng said it was difficult for his office to prevent the former minister’s departure, particularly as his cousin, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, was then the outgoing president.

"He had left the country earlier in the year, during the transition. Now, we must place this in a proper context because we have attracted some flak, that is why we allowed him to go," he said.

"He left before 7th January, between 1st and 6th January. I know the exact date, but I am not going to say it. Who was in power during those few days? And we don't control the airport," he added.

According to him, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) faced institutional and operational challenges in enforcing restrictions at the time, as other state agencies did not fully cooperate.

Read also: Lack of inter-agency support hindered efforts to block Ofori-Atta’s exit – OSP

He lamented that the situation led to his office being left without the requisite inter-agency backing to stop former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta from departing the country.

Background

The corruption case involving former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, currently in the United States of America, has evolved into one of the country’s most closely watched accountability battles.

OSP is investigating him over alleged financial misconduct linked to high-value contracts and public-fund management, including the controversial revenue-assurance agreement with Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited and issues surrounding the National Cathedral project.

The probe also touches on procurement matters related to the Electricity Company of Ghana. Despite multiple summons, Mr Ofori-Atta has failed to appear before investigators, prompting the OSP to declare him a fugitive and subsequently secure an INTERPOL Red Notice.

His legal team maintains concerns regarding procedure and health-related constraints, underscoring the legal tension surrounding the case.