Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been officially listed on INTERPOL’s Red Notice database following a renewed request by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP). The move comes amidst ongoing corruption investigations and intensifies efforts to bring the former minister to justice.

The Red Notice, made public on June 5, 2025, describes Ofori-Atta as a 65-year-old Ghanaian male, born on November 7, 1959, in Accra. He is 1.7 metres tall with black hair and black eyes and speaks both English and Twi.

According to INTERPOL, he is wanted on the charge of "Using Public Office for Profit." The OSP believes he is currently in the United States receiving medical treatment and is seeking international assistance to locate and provisionally arrest him, pending extradition or voluntary surrender.

This marks the second time the former minister has been declared a wanted person by the OSP. In February 2025, he was labelled a “fugitive from justice” for failing to appear before investigators after being summoned in relation to several high-profile corruption cases. These include matters linked to the controversial National Cathedral project and a revenue assurance deal with Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd (SML).

At a press briefing in Accra on June 2, the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, disclosed that his office had formally initiated procedures for the INTERPOL Red Notice just 30 minutes before the announcement.

“I triggered processes for the issuance of an INTERPOL red notice for the location and provisional arrest of Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta in whichever jurisdiction, pending extradition or his surrender,” Mr. Agyebeng stated.

Timeline of Events

• January 2025: The OSP formally notified Ofori-Atta that he was a suspect in five separate cases and requested his presence on February 10.
• January 31: His lawyers responded that he was abroad indefinitely for medical treatment and offered to represent him in his absence.
• February 5: The OSP rejected the claim of indefinite absence, demanded a firm return date, and reminded the former minister that legal counsel cannot respond to criminal charges on behalf of a client.
• February 10: A doctor’s note was submitted on Ofori-Atta’s behalf, indicating he was undergoing tests and potentially surgery, but without a definite timeline for return.
• February 12: The OSP officially declared him a fugitive from justice and activated an arrest warrant.
• February 18: Ofori-Atta appealed to the OSP, offering a return date in May. The OSP accepted and removed his name from the wanted list.
• March 2025: Ofori-Atta filed a lawsuit against the OSP and the Special Prosecutor, claiming unlawful treatment and requesting removal of related content from the OSP’s platforms.
• March 28: The Human Rights Court heard an interim application from Ofori-Atta, seeking to restrain the OSP from issuing future wanted declarations.

Despite these legal challenges, the OSP’s renewed action - culminating in the INTERPOL listing - signals a serious escalation. The public Red Notice encourages law enforcement agencies across INTERPOL’s 196 member countries, including Ghana and the U.S., to locate and provisionally detain the former minister.

What a Red Notice Means

While not an international arrest warrant, a Red Notice is a critical tool for international police cooperation. It allows a member state to request the location and provisional arrest of a fugitive for prosecution or to serve a sentence. INTERPOL reviews all requests to ensure compliance with its rules, verifying that they are not politically, religiously, or racially motivated and do not target refugees.

Once approved, the notice is distributed to all member states and includes identifying information such as name, age, physical characteristics, language proficiency, and the charges against the individual.

Implications for Ghana's Anti-Corruption Drive

The listing significantly raises the stakes for Ken Ofori-Atta, who served as Ghana’s Finance Minister from 2017 until early 2024. His tenure was marked by both praise and criticism - including allegations of financial mismanagement and controversial policy decisions.

With this international move, the OSP is demonstrating its resolve to pursue accountability beyond Ghana’s borders. It remains unclear how soon Ofori-Atta will respond or whether extradition proceedings will follow.

Meanwhile, the Special Prosecutor is urging members of the public with relevant information to contact national or local police. The OSP has also reinstated Ofori-Atta’s name on its official list of wanted persons.