AKRA Ghana (AP) – Global police organization Interpol on Friday put former Ghana’s finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta on his red notice list for alleged use of public office for personal gain.
The notice comes after West African state prosecutors declared Ofori-Atta a “fugitive” after he failed to appear in court on medical reasons. The lawyer for the former minister said they filed medical records with the court showing he was undergoing treatment abroad. His exact location is not yet known.
Ofori-Atta’s attorney Frank Davies told the Associated Press that his client declared the “fugitive” to be “very surrender” and “unrestrictedly violated Ofori-Atta’s rights to personal freedom and freedom of movement.”
Davis said the former minister has informed authorities that he intends to travel abroad for medical assistance since February.
INTERPOL’s red notice (although not an arrest warrant) warns law enforcement agencies to locate and detain Ofori-Atta before extradition.
Ofori-Atta served as Finance Minister for the New Patriot Party from 2017 to 2024 and is accused of several corruption cases, including the abuse of $58 million in public funds from the National Cathedral project that has never been realized.
In December, NPP candidate Mahamudu Bawumia lost the presidential election and elected it to national Democratic candidate John Mahama.
Since taking office in January, Mahama has launched an anti-corruption campaign aimed at recovering $20 billion in suspected stolen state funds. However, critics say the effort saves allies in his administration from allies.
Ofori-Atta has not commented on the allegations, but has said in the past that he was subject to illegal treatment of prosecution. In March, he filed a lawsuit against the Special Attorney’s Office, demanding that “harmful” content be removed from the office’s social media platform.
