Ghana Declares Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta a Fugitive Over Corruption Probe

Ghana’s former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has been declared a fugitive by the country’s Special Prosecutor after repeatedly failing to appear before investigators probing alleged corruption during his time in office.

The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, made the declaration on Wednesday, stating that Ofori-Atta is now officially a wanted person. The ex-minister, who served from 2017 until his replacement in February 2024, is being investigated for his role in payments made for Ghana’s controversial National Cathedral project, along with other unspecified financial transactions during his tenure.

A Medical Excuse Dismissed

Ofori-Atta’s legal team informed the Special Prosecutor that their client could not meet with investigators because he was undergoing medical treatment abroad and was unavailable “indefinitely.” However, Special Prosecutor Agyebeng rejected the excuse, stating his office was “unconvinced” that Ofori-Atta could not return to Ghana to face questioning.

“Consequently, the Office of the Special Prosecutor declares Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta a wanted person,” Agyebeng announced. “He is a fugitive from justice.”

Ofori-Atta did not respond to calls or messages seeking his reaction, and his exact location remains unknown.

Profile: Who is Ken Ofori-Atta?

Ken Ofori-Atta, 66, is one of the most recognizable figures in modern Ghanaian economic policymaking. Prior to entering public office, he co-founded Databank, Ghana’s leading investment bank, in 1990. With a background in finance and investment banking — including an MBA from the Yale School of Management — Ofori-Atta built a reputation as a savvy financial expert.

In 2017, when his cousin, Nana Akufo-Addo, became president, Ofori-Atta was appointed Minister of Finance, quickly becoming one of the most powerful voices in the administration.

His tenure saw Ghana’s economy face both praise and criticism. Initially, he was credited with helping to stabilize the economy, attracting investment, and overseeing key reforms. However, by 2022, Ghana’s debt had spiraled out of control, with debt servicing consuming over half of government revenues.

His handling of Ghana’s economic crisis made him a deeply polarizing figure. While he successfully negotiated a $3 billion bailout package with the IMF and secured a complex debt restructuring agreement, many Ghanaians blamed him for the fiscal mismanagement that made those steps necessary in the first place.

In December 2022, he narrowly survived a parliamentary censure motion, with critics calling for his removal over the debt crisis and perceived lack of transparency. Although Akufo-Addo defended his cousin and kept him in office long enough to complete the IMF deal, Ofori-Atta was ultimately replaced in early 2024.

The National Cathedral Scandal

At the heart of the Special Prosecutor’s case is the National Cathedral project, a flagship initiative of the Akufo-Addo government that has become a lightning rod for controversy. Originally intended as a grand symbol of national unity and faith, the project was quickly overshadowed by funding irregularities, procurement breaches, and mounting costs.

Prosecutors believe Ofori-Atta played a central role in approving and facilitating questionable payments tied to the project. Combined with broader concerns over public procurement practices during his tenure, the investigation could expose systemic financial abuses within Ghana’s economic management machinery.

A Test of Ghana’s Accountability Culture

The decision to declare Ofori-Atta a fugitive has reignited debates about how Ghana holds its political elite accountable. High-profile corruption investigations have often either stalled or ended without convictions, reinforcing public cynicism about the impunity of powerful officials.

For Ofori-Atta, once hailed as a technocrat who could modernize Ghana’s economy, being declared a fugitive is a spectacular fall from grace. It raises serious questions about the governance culture in Ghana, where former ministers frequently leave the country after leaving office, often citing medical reasons, while investigations into their conduct quietly fizzle out.

As Ghana confronts a post-bailout economic reality, the outcome of this case will be a litmus test for the credibility of the country’s anti-corruption institutions, and for the seriousness of President Akufo-Addo’s often-stated commitment to fighting corruption.

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