The Chronicle has sighted a letter purportedly written by a medical specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, indicating that former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta is undergoing treatment for prostate cancer and cannot return to Ghana at this time.
However, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has dismissed the claims, stating it has not received any such document and has re-declared Ofori-Atta a wanted person and fugitive from justice.
According to a post on Asaase FM’s facebook page, a Mayo Clinic letter confirms that former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and is scheduled for surgery on June 13, 2025.
The post continues that, ‘despite receiving this official document, the Office of the Special Prosecutor dismissed his medical status in a press briefing.’
The OSP, however, has firmly dismissed the letter, saying no certified medical records or official document from any hospital authority has been submitted to its office, indicating that Mr. Ofori-Atta is incapacitated or unable to travel to Ghana.
The letter, dated May 14, 2025, is on the official letterhead of the Mayo Clinic and signed by Dr. Ahmed Abdalrhim, MD, a consultant in the Department of Urology.
It states that Mr. Ofori-Atta“has been under the care of our Urology Department since March 2025. He underwent an MRI of the prostate followed by an MRI-guided biopsy on March 21, 2025.”
The letter further indicates that based on the biopsy results: “A diagnosis of prostate cancer was made. He is currently undergoing necessary pre-operative workup and is scheduled to undergo a radical prostatectomy on June 13, 2025.”
Dr. Abdalrhim adds that: “Following the surgery, he will require a recovery period before he is able to travel to his home country.”
Shortly after the letter went viral on social media, the OSP responded with a formal public notice dated June 3, 2025 posted on its Facebook page, stating that his Office has not received any letter from neither Mr Ofori-Atta nor his lawyers.
According to the OSP, the only correspondence it has received from Ofori-Atta’s legal team is a letter notifying them of a change in his medical condition, which is based entirely on their own account, not on any certified or hospital-generated documentation.
The OSP’s response stated: “It is notable that this alleged hospital letter has been circulated through the media rather than submitted to the law enforcement agency actively investigating him.
“To date, no certified medical records or official document from any hospital authority has been submitted to the OSP indicating that Mr. Ofori-Atta is incapacitated or unable to travel to Ghana.”
The OSP emphasized that this undermines the formal legal process and raises concerns about the motive behind such media disclosures.Mr Ofori-Atta is under investigation for alleged financial improprieties during his tenure as Finance Minister.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) is investigating the former Minister of Finance over five major issues during his tenure in office;
The Key Issues under investigations are:
1.Petroleum and Minerals Revenue Assurance: Contractual arrangements between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
2.Electricity Company Contract Termination: The termination of a contract between the Electricity Company of Ghana and Beijing Xiao Cheng Technology (BXC).
3.National Cathedral Project: Procurement procedures and financial transactions related to the National Cathedral.
4.Ambulance Procurement: A Ministry of Health contract with Service Ghana Auto Group Limited for purchasing and maintaining 307 ambulances.
5.GRA Tax P-Fund Management: Handling and disbursement of funds from the Tax P-Fund Account of the GRA.
