Latest news with #KenOforiAtta
CTV News
3 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Interpol issues red notice for Ghana's ex-finance minister over corruption claims
ACCRA, Ghana — Global police organization Interpol placed Ghana 's former finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta on its red notice list on Friday for allegedly using public office for personal gain. The notice follows a request from the West African country's prosecutors who have declared Ofori-Atta a 'fugitive' after he failed to appear before an investigative panel this month citing medical reasons. The former minister's lawyers said they submitted medical records to the court showing he is receiving treatment abroad. His exact location remains unclear. Ofori-Atta's lawyer, Frank Davies, told The Associated Press that the declaration of his client as a 'fugitive' is 'very condescending' and 'an unfettered infringement of Ofori-Atta's rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement.' Davies said the former minister had informed the authorities of his intention to travel outside the country for medical attention since February. An Interpol red notice — while not an arrest warrant — alerts law enforcement agencies to locate and detain Ofori-Atta pending extradition. Ofori-Atta, who served as finance minister from 2017 to 2024 for the New Patriotic Party, is accused of having been involved in several corruption cases, including the misuse of $58 million of public funds for a national cathedral project that never materialized. Last December, the NPP's candidate Mahamudu Bawumia lost the the presidential election to the National Democratic Congress nominee John Mahama. Since taking office in January, Mahama has launched an anti-corruption campaign aimed at recovering US$20 billion in alleged stolen state funds. Critics, however, say the effort has spared allies of his administration. Ofori-Atta has not commented on the accusations, but has said in the past he was unlawfully treated by the prosecution. In March, he filed a lawsuit against the office of the special prosecutor, requesting the removal of 'damaging' content from the office's social media platforms. Francis Kokutse, The Associated Press
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Interpol issues red notice for Ghana's ex-finance minister over corruption claims
ACCRA, Ghana — Global police organization Interpol placed Ghana 's former finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta on its red notice list on Friday for allegedly using public office for personal gain. The notice follows a request from the West African country's prosecutors who have declared Ofori-Atta a 'fugitive' after he failed to appear before an investigative panel this month citing medical reasons. The former minister's lawyers said they submitted medical records to the court showing he is receiving treatment abroad. His exact location remains unclear.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Interpol issues red notice for Ghana's ex-finance minister over corruption claims
Global police organization Interpol placed Ghana 's former finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta on its red notice list on Friday for allegedly using public office for personal gain. The notice follows a request from the West African country's prosecutors who have declared Ofori-Atta a 'fugitive' after he failed to appear before an investigative panel this month citing medical reasons. The former minister's lawyers said they submitted medical records to the court showing he is receiving treatment abroad. His exact location remains unclear. Ofori-Atta's lawyer, Frank Davies, told The Associated Press that the declaration of his client as a 'fugitive' is 'very condescending" and 'an unfettered infringement of Ofori-Atta's rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement.' Davies said the former minister had informed the authorities of his intention to travel outside the country for medical attention since February. An Interpol red notice — while not an arrest warrant — alerts law enforcement agencies to locate and detain Ofori-Atta pending extradition. Ofori-Atta, who served as finance minister from 2017 to 2024 for the New Patriotic Party, is accused of having been involved in several corruption cases, including the misuse of $58 million of public funds for a national cathedral project that never materialized. Last December, the NPP's candidate Mahamudu Bawumia lost the the presidential election to the National Democratic Congress nominee John Mahama. Since taking office in January, Mahama has launched an anti-corruption campaign aimed at recovering $20 billion in alleged stolen state funds. Critics, however, say the effort has spared allies of his administration. Ofori-Atta has not commented on the accusations, but has said in the past he was unlawfully treated by the prosecution. In March, he filed a lawsuit against the office of the special prosecutor, requesting the removal of 'damaging' content from the office's social media platforms.
Al Jazeera
4 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Interpol red notice issued for Ghana's former finance minister
Ghana's former finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has been placed on Interpol's red notice list after allegedly using public office for personal gain. Ofori-Atta, whose location remains unclear as he reportedly seeks medical treatment, is being investigated over a string of high-profile contracts relating to petroleum revenues, electricity supply and ambulance procurement. He is also under investigation over a controversial national cathedral project that swallowed tens of millions of dollars in public money yet remains little more than a hole in the ground. The red notice – a request to police worldwide to detain a suspect pending extradition – was issued four days after Ghana's Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) re-declared the 65-year-old a wanted person after he failed to appear for a scheduled interrogation. The OSP insists Ofori-Atta must appear in person, rejecting requests from his legal team for a virtual session on medical grounds. The prosecutor's notice, published by the state-run Ghana News Agency on Monday, stated a number of possible locations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Guyana, Hong Kong and the Cayman Islands. 'We will not countenance this conduct, not in this case,' Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng told local media on Monday. Frank Davies, a member of Ofori-Atta's legal team, was cited by the news agency AFP as saying medical records had been submitted 'in good faith', but that 'the office has chosen to ignore them'. 'The special prosecutor is not being sensitive to the issues at hand, especially knowing that Mr Ofori-Atta is unwell and receiving treatment,' said Davies on Friday. The new administration of President John Mahama has been on the heels of former government appointees to account for their tenure in office. The attorney general is currently building 33 cases of corruption and related offences against former government appointees. Ofori-Atta served as former President Nana Akufo-Addo's finance minister for seven years.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
What next after Interpol issue red notice for Ghana 'fugitive' ex-minister?
Interpol don put Ghana former finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta on red notice list on top accuse say e allegedly use public office for personal gain. Dis dey come afta Ghanaian prosecutors declare am as wanted pesin and fugitive from justice, as e dey outside di kontri, ova im alleged involvement for plenty corruption cases wen e dey government. Red notice no be arrest warrant but na request to police worldwide to detain pesin pending extradition. Ofori-Atta, wey dem say dey out of di kontri for medical reasons, neva comment on di allegations, but e say dem dey treat am illegally. AFP news agency wey quote Frank Davies, on Ofori-Atta legal team, condemn di prosecutor approach. "We don submit medical records in good faith, and di office don choose to ignore dem," Oga Davies tell AFP. "Di special prosecutor no dey sensitive to di issues wey dey ground, especially since e know say Ofori-Atta no well and e dey receive treatment." Dem accuse di 65-year-old say e cause financial losses to di state. Di allegations include questions ova procurement procedures for di building of one controversial national cathedral, wey remain as a hole for ground despite di alleged spending of $58m (£46.6m) of goment money. Ofori-Atta lawyers don offer to represent am but di state prosecutor say dem no fit respond to criminal charges on behalf of dia client. Ofori-Atta lawyers don offer to represent am but di state prosecutor say dem no fit respond to criminal charges on behalf of dia client. For February, Ofori-Atta beg di Office of di Special Prosecutor (OSP) to remove im name from di wanted list and provide am a definite return date for May. State prosecutor Kissi Agyabeng accept Ofori-Atta assurance and remove im name come di wanted list. But for March, Ofori-Atta bin file one lawsuit, wia e claim unlawful treatment and request di removal of related content from di OSP social media platforms. Early dis month, dem re-declare Ofori-Atta as wanted pesin and a fugitive from justice afta e fail to appear bifor one investigative panel. Agyebeng later formally begin di Red Notice request, e ask for international help in tracking down di former official, local media report. "We want am here physically, and we insist on am. Suspect for inside criminal investigation no dey pick and choose how di investigative body go conduct dia investigations," Agyebeng tok. For di Red Notice released late Thursday, Interpol say Ofori-Atta dey wanted on charges of "using public office for profit". Wetin e mean to dey on 'Interpol red list' Red Notice na request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest pesin pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action. E dey based on arrest warrant or court order wey judicial authorities issue from di kontri wey dey make di request. Member kontris fit apply dia own laws in deciding weda to arrest di pesin. Red Notices dey important bicos dem dey use am to alert police for all member kontris about internationally wanted fugitives. Red Notices dey help bring fugitives to justice, sometimes many years afta dem commit di original crime. Who be Ken Offori-Atta? Offori-Atta na di finance minister from January 2017 to February 2024, wen di New Patriotic Party (NPP) bin dey for power. Di NPP lost last December elections to di National Democratic Congress. President John Mahama, wey dey inaugurated for January, bin go on to establish one investigative committee wey dey known as Operation Recover All Loot. Di committee don receive ova 200 complaints of corruption, wey amount to more dan $20bn in recoverable funds. Oga Mahama don direct di attorney general and minister of justice to launch investigations into dis allegations, e say Ghana no go be safe haven for corruption. However, some Ghanaians don criticise am for say e stop di cases against im former allies on trial.
