According to the OSP, Ken Ofori-Atta was invited to assist with investigations into five separate cases of alleged corruption and abuse of public office.
He has also been re-declared a fugitive, prompting the request for global assistance through INTERPOL, to arrest the former government appointee.
This has sparked conversations among the public in both local and international news reports.
Ofori-Atta is accused of misconduct, relating to the management of public funds, including matters tied to the National Cathedral project, petroleum revenues, tax refund operations, procurement of ambulances, and electricity infrastructure contracts.
These cases, the OSP asserts, involve serious breaches of public trust and financial accountability, and warrant thorough investigation under Ghanaian and international anti-corruption standards.
Meanwhile, the family of Ken Ofori-Atta, has criticised the OSP for re-declaring him a wanted fugitive and initiating an Interpol Red Notice process for his arrest.
According to the family, the OSP’s actions constitute a violation of Ken Ofori-Atta’s rights, describing the move as “the very definition of vendetta, making the destruction of a life, a sport for political audiences.”
In a press statement dated Monday, June 9, 2025, the former minister’s family accused the OSP of several infractions, including the deliberate suppression and manipulation of evidence, violation of human rights, particularly the right to health, disregard for judicial proceedings, due process, and breach of administrative justice.
With his name now on an INTERPOL Red Notice, law enforcement agencies across all 196 member countries have been formally alerted to locate and, if permitted by national law, provisionally arrest Ken Ofori-Atta pending extradition proceedings.
What is an INTERPOL Red Notice?
An INTERPOL Red Notice is a global alert issued at the request of a member country, asking police forces worldwide to help locate and provisionally arrest a person wanted either for prosecution or to serve a sentence.
It is however not an international arrest warrant, but it serves as a powerful mechanism for facilitating cross-border law enforcement.
According to INTERPOL, “A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action. It is not an international arrest warrant, Red Notices are only issued when certain strict conditions are met”.
The primary purpose of the Red Notice is to facilitate international cooperation in the pursuit of justice.
It allows countries to request and extradite individuals who have fled justice in their home countries.
It is activated upon a request from a country with a valid arrest warrant and it is reviewed to ensure it meets complied rules and regulations.
Implications of Red Notice
Being placed on an INTERPOL Red Notice significantly restricts a person’s ability to travel internationally.
It can also lead to the freezing of assets, reputational damage, and the triggering of formal extradition processes to the country that requested the notice.
It is worthy to note that individuals placed on the Red Notice can challenge the notice through INTERPOL’s Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files (CCF), an independent body that ensures that all personal data processed through INTERPOL’s channels conforms to the rules of the Organisation.
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
