The controversy surrounding the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s (OSP) decision to declare former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta a fugitive has sparked strong reactions from the NPP.
Henry Nana Boakye, the National Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has dismissed the OSP’s claims, describing them as baseless and unreasonable.
During a press briefing, Nana Boakye stated that Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng had wrongly labeled Ofori-Atta as a fugitive despite the fact that the former minister had maintained communication through his legal representatives.
“It is baffling that a Special Prosecutor, a lawyer, and a law lecturer would make such a basic mistake in labeling a person of interest who has not been charged and remains in contact through his lawyers as a wanted individual or a fugitive. Isn’t that odd?”
Henry Nana Boakye
Nana Boakye further provided a timeline of Ofori-Atta’s communications, revealing that the former Finance Minister had informed the former Chief of Staff, Madam Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, on January 2, 2025, about his medical trip to the United States.
He later notified the new Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, on January 22, 2025, reiterating his willingness to cooperate with any state investigations.
“On January 31, Mr. Ofori-Atta’s lawyer wrote to the Special Prosecutor, stating that our client had notified both the former and current Chief of Staff about his medical trip. He also provided reliable contact details for any necessary correspondence.”
Henry Nana Boakye
Nana B indicated that despite this, the OSP rejected the request for medical leave and insisted that Ofori-Atta provide a date for his return by February 10, 2025, threatening legal action if he failed to comply.
OSP’s Double Standards?
Additionally, Henry Nana Boakye also accused the OSP of employing double standards in its investigations.
He cited the Special Prosecutor’s handling of the Airbus corruption case, where the OSP reportedly traveled to the United Kingdom to interview a suspect, Samuel Adam Mahama, but refused to extend the same courtesy to Ofori-Atta, who was undergoing medical treatment.“If you could travel to the U.K. to interview John Mahama’s brother, what stops you from doing the same for the former minister?”
He further argued that if the OSP could wait two years to question an individual in the Airbus case, then it was unreasonable to hastily label Ofori-Atta a fugitive after just two weeks of correspondence.
According to Nana Boakye, Ofori-Atta’s legal team responded on February 7, 2025, submitting a letter from the Mayo Clinic confirming that he was undergoing tests and might require surgery.
He revealed that the hospital letter included official contact details and a stamped signature, verifying its authenticity. However, the OSP still maintained its stance, escalating tensions.
In a shocking turn of events, on February 11, 2025, a group of 12 individuals, including police officers, military personnel, and unidentified plainclothes men, raided Ofori-Atta’s residence.
He alleged that video footage reportedly showed a third accused in the controversial ambulance procurement case accompanying the team. “The OSP has been unreasonable, considering the ongoing communication between Ofori-Atta and the OSP concerning his health.”
He stressed that labeling someone a fugitive requires evidence that they are untraceable, which was not the case with Ofori-Atta.
A National Embarrassment?
Accordingly, Nana Boakye described the OSP’s handling of the case as a “national embarrassment,” arguing that such actions damaged the country’s reputation.
“If the Special Prosecutor had sent the letter before Ofori-Atta traveled, perhaps there would be cause for concern. But he left Ghana weeks before receiving any summons. So how could he be called a fugitive?”
Henry Nana Boakye
He further highlighted Ofori-Atta’s history of cooperation with state institutions, citing previous investigations into Eurobond transactions and parliamentary probes.
“Ofori-Atta has never evaded accountability. He has always responded to inquiries, and he will continue to do so once he is medically cleared to return.”
As such, Nana Boakye pledged the NPP’s readiness to support any legitimate investigations but will resist what the party perceives as political harassment.
He condemned the OSP’s intelligence report, which suggested that the raid on Ofori-Atta’s home was staged. “When we have CCTV footage showing uniformed officers storming his residence, how can you claim it was staged?” he asked.
The ongoing feud between the OSP and Ofori-Atta’s camp has raised critical questions about legal processes, political accountability, and ethical governance.
While the Special Prosecutor insists on pursuing the case, the NPP continues to defend Ofori-Atta, insisting that due process must be followed.
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