Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin came under pressure on Friday to explain the continued absence of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, who is expected to return to the country to face investigations into alleged corruption-linked contracts, including the GRA–SML deal and the National Cathedral project.

The debate was triggered when the Minister for Local Government, Ahmed Ibrahim, reminded the House of the Minority Leader’s earlier assurance that Ofori-Atta would be back in Ghana by February 18.

He directly demanded an update on the former minister’s whereabouts.

Ahmed Ibrahim told the House, “He gave us authoritative information that by February 18th, the honourable former Finance Minister was going to be in Ghana. So I’m saying, where is the former Finance Minister?… Ministers of Finance who have occupied that office, after their tenure, remain in this country. Where is he?”

Responding, Afenyo-Markin insisted he had not misled Parliament and explained that Ofori-Atta had formally notified the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) of his medical condition and plans.

According to him, “The records would bear me out… Ken Ofori-Atta had written to the OSP, through his lawyers, that he was going to be in the country on or before May… Ken Ofori-Atta again indicated that he had been booked for surgery.”

He added that doctors later advised that the surgery required an extended healing period, prompting another communication from the former minister.
Afenyo-Markin urged MPs to be considerate, saying, “When it comes to ill health… all of us may go through it one way or the other. If a man is going through a serious medical condition, how many of us would be bold enough to disclose our medical records? But the man has disclosed his medical record.”

He criticised attempts to politicise Ofori-Atta’s health challenges, stressing, “Let’s be fair to Ken Ofori-Atta. It can be you tomorrow.”

But the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, rejected claims that MPs were being insensitive, arguing that Mr Ofori-Atta’s current medical condition only became an issue after he was required to face accountability.

Ayariga told Parliament, “You are giving an impression that members on this side are insensitive to the medical condition of Ken Ofori-Atta… Ken Ofori-Atta was very sick in this country. You could see the sickness in his face. But at that time, it was sweet to be a Finance Minister.”

He added pointedly, “How come that suddenly, because today he is being sought after by the law enforcement agencies, he cannot live in this country and is claiming illness? He was sick when he was the Finance Minister. We all saw it.”

The former Finance Minister was invited by the OSP earlier this year to provide evidence or respond to allegations surrounding the controversial GRA–SML revenue assurance contract and other public spending concerns. His prolonged stay abroad has since become a major point of contention between the two sides of the House.