Ken Ofori-Atta, Ghana’s former finance minister, has been placed on Interpol’s Red Notice list after being declared a wanted person and fugitive by Ghanaian prosecutors for alleged abuse of office and corruption.

The move follows accusations that he used his public office for personal gain during his tenure in government from January 2017 to February 2024.

The Red Notice—while not an arrest warrant—alerts international law enforcement agencies to locate and detain him pending extradition. Ofori-Atta is believed to be abroad for medical treatment and has not publicly responded to the latest developments, although he previously claimed he was being unlawfully treated.

Among the charges levelled against the 65-year-old are claims of causing financial loss to the state and violating procurement procedures, particularly in the controversial national cathedral project. Despite an alleged $58 million in government spending, the site remains an unfinished foundation.

Earlier in February, Ofori-Atta appealed to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to remove his name from the wanted list and assured a return to Ghana by May. His name was briefly withdrawn, but in March, he filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the OSP’s treatment and demanded the removal of related content from its social media platforms.

However, after failing to appear before an investigative panel this month, OSP head Kissi Agyebeng reclassified him as a fugitive and formally sought Interpol’s assistance. “We want him here physically, and we insist on it,” Agyebeng stated. “A suspect in a criminal investigation does not pick and choose how the investigative body conducts its investigations.”

The former minister served under the New Patriotic Party (NPP), which lost power in the December 2024 elections. President John Mahama, who returned to office in January 2025, launched “Operation Recover All Loot,” a sweeping anti-corruption campaign that has reportedly received over 200 complaints involving more than $20 billion in allegedly recoverable state funds.

While Mahama’s administration has drawn praise for its crackdown on corruption, it has also faced criticism for allegedly discontinuing cases involving his political allies. Nonetheless, the president has vowed that Ghana “will no longer be a safe haven for corruption.” (AriseNews TV)