The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) says former Finance Minister Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta remains a fugitive from justice in Ghana and is required to appear before the High Court in Accra to answer criminal charges pending against him.
The OSP reiterated its position in a public notice issued on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, following the circulation of a transcript purportedly from a United States Immigration Court, which has been interpreted by some media reports as suggesting that Mr. Ofori-Atta has not been credibly charged or linked to wrongdoing in Ghana.
According to the OSP, proceedings before the US Immigration Court are separate from the criminal case against the former Finance Minister in Ghana and the extradition process being pursued for his return.
“The OSP reiterates that Mr. Ofori-Atta remains the subject of criminal proceedings in Ghana, which are before the High Court, Accra. A valid warrant of arrest has been issued by the High Court, Accra, and Mr. Ofori-Atta remains a fugitive from justice in Ghana,” the OSP stated.
It added, “He is required to submit himself to the jurisdiction of the High Court, Accra, to answer the criminal charges pending against him.”
The Special Prosecutor explained that the transcript being circulated relates to US immigration proceedings and does not determine the credibility of the criminal charges filed against Mr. Ofori-Atta in Ghana.
“The credibility or otherwise of the criminal charges against Mr. Ofori-Atta is a matter for determination by the courts in Ghana, which have jurisdiction to determine his guilt or innocence. Such matters are not determined by an immigration court in the United States,” he OSP said.
The Office further clarified that there are three separate legal processes involving the former Finance Minister: immigration proceedings concerning his status in the United States; extradition proceedings to determine whether he should be surrendered to Ghana; and his criminal prosecution in Ghana for alleged corruption and corruption-related offences.
The OSP stressed that its involvement in the United States relates to extradition proceedings being pursued through the Attorney-General as Ghana’s central authority, and not the immigration case.
“The OSP reiterates that the extradition packet is not before the immigration court,” it stated.
The Office maintained that the criminal case in Ghana will proceed in accordance with the law and directives of the High Court regardless of whether Mr. Ofori-Atta is physically present in the country.
Mr. Ofori-Atta, who served as Finance Minister from 2017 to 2024, has been the subject of investigations by the OSP over several transactions undertaken during his tenure.
The OSP filed criminal charges against Mr. Ofori-Atta and other accused persons over alleged corruption and corruption-related offences. The High Court subsequently issued a warrant for his arrest as legal processes continued to secure his return to Ghana to face the charges.
The OSP has maintained that the former Finance Minister must submit himself to the jurisdiction of the Ghanaian courts to answer the allegations against him.
