The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) secured a major legal win on Thursday after the High Court dismissed an attempt by former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, to overturn an arrest warrant issued against him.
The court ruled that Mr. Ofori-Atta’s application lacked legal merit, thereby affirming the OSP’s authority to pursue its ongoing corruption and procurement investigations into his tenure at the Finance Ministry.
The decision gives the Special Prosecutor a green light to proceed with legal processes, including the Interpol Red Notice issued in June, which sought international assistance to locate and apprehend the former minister, who is reportedly receiving medical care abroad.
Legal counsel for Mr. Ofori-Atta, Frank Davies, acknowledged the court’s ruling but hinted at a possible appeal or other legal redress.
“We have taken note of the High Court’s decision and are reviewing the legal options available to us,” Mr. Davies said in an interview on Eyewitness News. “There are mechanisms within the law to respond, and we will consider our next move carefully.”
The OSP had earlier described Mr. Ofori-Atta as uncooperative, accusing him of evading multiple invitations for questioning in relation to alleged financial irregularities and breaches of public procurement laws.
The former minister has denied wrongdoing and challenged the procedural basis of the OSP’s warrant, claiming it was secured improperly. However, Thursday’s ruling dealt a blow to that claim, reinforcing the Special Prosecutor’s legal standing.
This ruling is likely to intensify the pressure on Mr. Ofori-Atta to return to Ghana and face questioning, especially as the case continues to attract public interest amid growing demands for accountability in high-level public finance management.
