The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has been hit with another lawsuit by former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, over the OSP’s characterisation of him as a fugitive from justice and a wanted person.
Ken Ofori-Atta’s legal representatives are seeking a court order to prevent the OSP from labeling or referring to him as a ‘wanted person’ or a ‘fugitive from justice,’ according to Citi Newsroom.
Additionally, regarding the continued display of Ofori-Atta’s picture and name on the OSP’s wanted persons list on social media, his legal team argues that this action violates the principles of administrative justice.
This is despite the OSP’s assurance in a letter dated February 1, 2025, that the former minister would be removed from the wanted persons list.
The suit demands the immediate removal of Ofori-Atta’s name from the list, as well as an order preventing the OSP from reinstating it without judicial approval.
Ofori-Atta is also seeking an interlocutory injunction to prevent the OSP from issuing further press releases or media statements declaring him a fugitive.
Additionally, he is requesting a mandatory order compelling the agency to erase all references to him as a wanted individual.
The case, set to be heard in April 2025, also argues that the OSP’s press releases and media statements violate fundamental human rights, including Ken Ofori-Atta’s freedom of movement, personal liberty, and right to administrative justice, as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution.
This is the second suit filed by Ofori-Atta against the OSP.
The first suit, which has yet to be heard, seeks reliefs including court declarations affirming that the OSP’s actions were unlawful and that the agency had no statutory power to declare a person wanted without court approval, among other requests.
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
