The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has dismissed claims that it has failed to cooperate with the Attorney General’s Department in the extradition of former Finance Minister, Kenneth Ofori-Atta, describing such assertions as “misleading and factually inaccurate.”
In a statement issued on Monday, October 20, 2025, the OSP described as inaccurate recent comments made by the Deputy Attorney General during an interview on GHOne TV, in which he alleged that the Attorney General’s Department had written several letters to the OSP requesting the docket on Mr. Ofori-Atta but had received no response.
“The OSP considers it necessary to provide factual clarity on this matter, reaffirm the procedural steps already undertaken, and address security concerns arising from a recent leak of highly sensitive communication that pose grave risks to ongoing investigations and to the safety of OSP personnel,” the statement read.
According to the OSP, investigations into alleged corruption and corruption-related offences involving the former minister were initiated under the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959), making Mr. Ofori-Atta the prime suspect. The former minister was duly notified and invited for questioning but reportedly left the jurisdiction in January 2025 and has since refused to return voluntarily.
Judicial Warrant and INTERPOL Red Notice
The OSP revealed that by the end of May 2025, it had secured a judicial warrant for Mr. Ofori-Atta’s arrest and declared him a fugitive from justice. His name was subsequently placed on the Office’s List of Wanted Persons after he filed multiple unsuccessful applications in court seeking to have his name expunged.
“In early June 2025, the OSP successfully caused Mr. Ofori-Atta to be placed on the Red Notice of INTERPOL,” the statement said. “Simultaneously, the OSP triggered the process for the extradition of Mr. Ofori-Atta through the Chief of Staff at the Presidency on 2 June 2025.”
The Chief of Staff, it explained, duly transmitted the extradition request to the Attorney General on June 3, in line with legal procedures that designate the Attorney General’s office as the Central Authority for Mutual Legal Assistance requests.
By a letter dated June 13, 2025, the Attorney General confirmed receipt of the extradition package and requested the inclusion of two OSP officers on the prosecution team, as well as a copy of the docket.
On June 20, the OSP responded by nominating two officers and explained that the compilation of the docket was still ongoing following the discovery of new evidence during a search operation at two offices of Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) conducted with National Security on June 10.
The Attorney General reportedly followed up in September with another request, while discussions between both offices continued through formal and informal channels.
Leak of Official Correspondence
The OSP expressed concern over a social media leak on the night of October 16, which published confidential communications exchanged between the OSP, the Chief of Staff, and the Attorney General concerning the extradition request. The leak was accompanied by commentary suggesting that the OSP was deliberately stalling the process, a claim the Office vehemently rejected.
“The OSP confidently states that the leakage of the official documents did not arise from its end,” the statement declared, adding that such exposure of official correspondence poses “grave security and operational risks” to ongoing investigations.
No Rift Between OSP and Attorney General
The OSP firmly dismissed speculation of tension or institutional breakdown between itself and the Attorney General’s Department, stressing that both offices remain “distinct by design but complementary in function.”
“The OSP is not frustrating and will not frustrate its own extradition request,” the statement emphasized. “There is absolutely no reason for the Attorney General’s Department to feel frustrated, if that is the case, in respect of a matter it is not involved in substantively in the investigation and prosecution of suspected persons.”
The OSP further explained that extradition is a complex, multi-agency process that involves a series of sequential steps, including investigation and evidence compilation, the issuance of an arrest warrant, preparation of extradition documents, legal authentication by the Attorney General, and diplomatic transmission to the foreign jurisdiction involved. Each step, it noted, must comply with both Ghanaian and international legal standards.
Ongoing Investigations and Public Interest
Reaffirming its commitment to due process, the OSP said its investigators are continuing to analyze new evidence gathered in June, and urged the public to exercise patience as it seeks to complete its work professionally and thoroughly.
“The OSP does not sacrifice excellent and professional investigations on perceived frustration over a response,” it stated, assuring Ghanaians that the extradition efforts are ongoing and being handled with the highest degree of diligence.
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