Ghana’s former finance minister declared a fugitive

The former Finance Minister of Ghana, Ken ofori-Atta, has been declared a fugitive by prosecutors about his alleged participation in multiple cases of corruption when he was in the government.

Ofori-Atta had left Ghana to evade investigations, and all necessary measures would be taken to bring him back, said special prosecutor Kissi Agyabeng.

Ofori-Atta has been accused of causing financial losses to the State, even about a controversial National Cathedralwhich remains a hole in the ground despite the alleged spending of $ 58 million (£ 46.6 million) of government money.

Ofori-Atta has not commented on the accusations. According to Agyabeng, former minister’s lawyers said he was out of the country for medical reasons.

Agyabeng said at a press conference that ofori-Atta, 66, could not attend an interview with the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), although they told him that he was suspicious.

Ofori -Tta left Ghana in early January, and had no intention of returning “voluntarily,” said Agyabeng.

The OSP declared it, therefore, a “person sought.”

“It is a fugitive of justice,” added the special prosecutor.

Ofori-Atta was Minister of Finance from January 2017 to February 2024, when the new Patriotic Party (NPP) was in power.

He lost elections in December to the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

President John Mahama, who was inaugurated in January, established a research committee known as Operation Recover All Loot.

The committee has received more than 200 complaints of corruption, for a value of more than $ 20 billion in recoverable funds.

Mahama has ordered the Attorney General and the Minister of Justice to initiate investigations on these accusations, stating that Ghana will no longer be a safe shelter for corruption.

However, some Ghanaes have criticized him for suspending cases against his former allies in court.