Ghana’s special prosecutor has declared former finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, a wanted person after he failed to meet with authorities to answer questions over alleged wrongdoing.
Ofori-Atta, who held the position for seven years from 2017, was replaced as minister last February by former President Nana Akufo-Addo.
According to Bloomberg, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng declared Ofori-Atta wanted Wednesday after he failed to confirm an appointment date with the prosecutor’s office “to answer to charges relating to” payments made for a controversial national cathedral project, and other issues for which few details were provided.
Lawyers for Ofori-Atta, 66, told the prosecutor’s office he was unable to honor the request to meet because he is outside the country “indefinitely” for medical attention, Agyebeng said. Agyebeng then said his office is “unconvinced” that Ofori-Atta is unable to return to Ghana.
“Consequently, the Office of the Special Prosecutor declares Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta a wanted person,” he said. “He is a fugitive from justice.”
Ofori-Atta did not respond to calls and messages sent to his mobile phone.
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Widely considered one of the most influential people in the Akufo-Addo administration, the former minister faced criticism as it became clear that the country, once seen as a regional investor darling, couldn’t keep up with debt payments, which were consuming more than half of government revenue.
In December 2022, Ofori-Atta narrowly survived a parliamentary motion to have him removed. And for more than a year, Akufo-Addo fended off critics, saying Ofori-Atta should be allowed to complete negotiations with the International Monetary Fund to secure a $3 billion bailout, which he did, and to reach an agreement with creditors to restructure much of Ghana’s 575.5 billion cedis ($37 billion) of debt at the time.
