Prosecutors have declared Ken Ofori-Atta, Ghana’s former finance minister, wanted over his alleged involvement in multiple corruption cases when he was a cabinet member.
Ofori-Atta was finance minister from January 2017 to February 2024 when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was in power.
The former minister is also a cousin to Nana Akufo-Addo, Ghana’s immediate past president.
Kissi Agyabeng, special prosecutor, said Ofori-Atta fled the country to evade investigations.
Advertisement
Agyabeng declared the former minister a fugitive, adding that all necessary steps would be taken to bring him back.
According to Agyabeng, Ofori-Atta’s lawyers said he was out of the country for medical reasons.
Ofori-Atta has been accused of causing financial losses to the state, including approving some $58 million for the construction of a controversial national cathedral.
Advertisement
Akufo-Addo conceived the cathedral as a tribute to God following his 2016 presidential election victory.
The former minister is also implicated in a contentious contract between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd. (SML), a company specialising in audit and insurance in the oil sector.
In 2019, the GRA allegedly paid over $83 million to SML under Ofori-Atta’s watch without obtaining the legally required approval from the public procurement authority.
President John Mahama’s new administration has declared zero tolerance for corruption and vowed to pursue former government officials over alleged corrupt practices.
Advertisement
Add a comment
