The Member of Parliament (MP) for Yendi, Hon. Abdul-Fatawu Alhassan, has raised significant doubts about the strength and viability of the conspiracy charges brought against former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and others implicated in the GRA-SML contract saga.
His concerns stem from the absence of some accused individuals, a situation he believes weakens the prosecutorial foundation of the case and complicates the burden of proof required by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
Mr. Alhassan warned that some of the charges, particularly the conspiracy-related ones, may face serious legal hurdles because of this.
“A conspiracy is done by two people, so you can’t prove that albeit of conspiracy, while some are still at large. This will make even proving some of the offences difficult until all parties are found”
Hon. Abdul-Fatawu Alhassan, MP for Yendi
The OSP filed 78 charges against eight individuals, including Mr. Ofori-Atta, over alleged wrongdoing in the controversial revenue assurance contracts signed between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML).
These charges, signed by Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng and filed at the Accra High Court, include conspiracy to influence procurement processes for unfair advantage, corruption-related offences, and procurement breaches uncovered during months of investigation.
Yet the Yendi MP’s comments reflect a broader concern among legal observers about the complexity of prosecuting cases involving multiple actors, cross-institutional roles, and contract decisions stretching across several administrative terms.
Hon. Alhassan further indicated that the absence of some suspects does not only create gaps in establishing joint intent but may also lead to the collapse of certain charges. Expanding on this, he emphasised the nature of the offences and the dependency of some charges on the presence of all alleged collaborators.
He cautioned that without full representation of accused parties, key aspects of the prosecution’s case could fall apart.
“Some offences are inchoate offences; they are offences that can’t stand on their own, they are on other offences. Such offences, you need all the people that conspired to be able to establish those cases, else some will be left off the hook”
Hon. Abdul-Fatawu Alhassan, MP for Yendi
Potential Stall
Beyond the challenge of proving conspiracy, the Yendi MP expressed concern about the duration of proceedings, pointing to Ghana’s slow judicial processes and arguing that unless the case receives exceptional attention, it could extend far beyond the anticipated period.
Hon. Alhassan likened the needed urgency to the fast-tracked trial involving former Finance Minister Ato Forson, where daily hearings were instituted to prevent undue delays. He argued that without such a structured timeline, the GRA-SML matter could drag on for years, spanning multiple government administrations.
He noted that President John Dramani Mahama’s current term may not be enough for the case to reach full resolution unless the judiciary intervenes with accelerated mechanisms.
“I don’t foresee this case ending within the four years of the Mahama administration – even in ten years, I am not sure we can conclude” he said, urging for appropriate measures to be put in place if justice is to be served to the people of Ghana without delay.
The MP also used the opportunity to question the institutional role and continued relevance of the OSP. He described the country’s investigative and prosecutorial landscape as already bloated, suggesting that the addition of the OSP further complicates overlaps between existing anti-corruption agencies.
His remarks add to the growing national conversation about the efficiency, independence, and long-term sustainability of the OSP in Ghana’s governance structure.
The charges filed by the OSP involve key former government officials and individuals within the GRA and SML.
Those named include former GRA Commissioner-Generals Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah and Emmanuel Kofi Nti, senior GRA officials Isaac Crentsil and Kwadwo Damoa, former Finance Ministry Technical Advisor Ernest Akore, SML owner Evans Adusei, and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited itself as a corporate body.
The Special Prosecutor maintains that investigations uncovered systemic procurement breaches, abuse of office, and alleged corruption linked to contracts intended to enhance revenue assurance in critical sectors of the economy.
For Hon. Alhassan, the matter is not simply about the volume of charges but about the structural challenges of prosecuting a case of this magnitude.
His comments reflect concerns that without the full complement of accused persons and a judicial strategy that prioritises timely adjudication, key aspects of the prosecution may stall, weaken, or remain unresolved for years.
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