The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has condemned the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for what it described as an unreasonable and unjustified declaration of former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, as a fugitive.
During a press conference, the party outlined its grievances regarding the matter, arguing that Ofori-Atta’s absence from the country was due to medical reasons and that due process was not followed before the declaration was made.
The NPP emphasized that Ofori-Atta is currently receiving medical treatment, and evidence of his condition has been communicated to the OSP. They stated that a treatment letter from the Mayo Clinic provides clear proof that he is undergoing medical care and, therefore, cannot be considered a fugitive.
“… Law reveals that somebody is declared a fugitive when that person cannot be reached, cannot be traced. You don’t even know where the person is. And at least you give yourself a reasonable time after a search.”
New Patriotic Party (NPP)
The NPP further stated that the OSP does not have the legal authority to declare any individual a fugitive, as this power lies solely with the courts. Providing a timeline of events, the NPP refuted any claims that Ofori-Atta fled Ghana to evade legal scrutiny.
“If the special prosecutor’s letter from January 24 had prompted Mr. Ofori-Atta to leave Ghana, the OSP might be justified in harboring suspicion. However, Mr. Ofori-Atta was already out of the country well before OSP contacted him. He traveled on January 2. And your letter to him came in on January 24.”
“So how could the man be labeled as a fugitive when he was already in the country? Indeed, he was not even the finance minister about eight months before the elections, and you, Mr. Kissi Agyebeng, you were the special prosecutor. And he was in the country throughout.”
New Patriotic Party (NPP)
The NPP asserted that since his appointment as Finance Minister in 2017, Ken Ofori-Atta has consistently demonstrated transparency and respect for legal proceedings.
They pointed to past investigations, including a conflict-of-interest probe led by Parliament’s censure vote, where he was fully present and cooperative.
“Mr. Ofori-Atta can never be a fugitive. He is not a fugitive. And he will never be a fugitive.”
New Patriotic Party (NPP)
Call for the OSP to Act with Caution
The NPP concluded by urging the Special Prosecutor to exercise caution in handling sensitive national matters.
“The OSP got it wrong. He got it wrong. Once Mr. Ofori-Atta’s doctors declare him fit and healthy, he will return to the country. Until then, the Special Prosecutor should avoid making sensational statements, provoking public emotions, and creating drama over the matter.”
“If you label your former finance minister as a fugitive, which indeed is not so, what you are doing is that it amounts to a national embarrassment. When indeed, the length of your correspondence is just two weeks. And you can’t wait. It’s not as if the person is lost [and]the person cannot be traced.”
New Patriotic Party (NPP)
The NPP strongly criticized the OSP’s actions, insisting that Ofori-Atta’s medical leave was legitimate and that the Special Prosecutor overstepped his mandate. They urged the OSP to adopt a more measured approach in handling cases of national importance to avoid unnecessary public agitation and reputational damage.
