The Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra is set to arraign former Finance Minister Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta and seven other accused persons on Monday, 24 November 2025, marking a significant step in one of the most high-profile corruption cases initiated by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
The case, The Republic v. Kenneth Ofori-Atta & 7 Others, follows extensive investigations into the controversial revenue assurance contracts awarded to Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML), contracts the OSP says were fraught with procurement irregularities and systemic statutory breaches.
According to court filings and updates from the OSP, prosecutors will on Monday seek the necessary court orders to facilitate service of the charge sheet on accused persons who are currently outside the jurisdiction.
These individuals, considered fugitives by the prosecution, form part of the eight defendants listed in Case No. CR10106b026, filed on November 18 after months of investigations into the SML agreements.
The OSP’s inquiry, which drew national attention earlier in the year, concluded that the contracts were awarded through a process polluted by “extensive statutory violations and systemic abuse of the public procurement process.”
At the centre of the allegations is a claim that senior officials at the Ministry of Finance and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) conspired with private interests to manipulate procurement procedures in a way that granted SML unlawful advantage in securing its multi-million-cedi revenue assurance engagements.
The charge sheet lists prominent public officials and private actors, including former Acting Commissioner-General of the GRA Emmanuel Kofi Nti; former Commissioner of the GRA Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah; former Commissioner of the Customs Division Kwadwo Damoah; and Evans Adusei, the man prosecutors describe as the “Chief Executive and controlling mind” behind SML.
Prosecutors argue that the accused persons jointly engaged in acts that subverted due process and compromised the integrity of public financial management.
The OSP maintains that the contracts in question were not subjected to mandatory procurement scrutiny, including value-for-money assessments, and that these omissions facilitated the award of revenue assurance services in petroleum downstream, upstream, and mining sectors without lawful justification.
The prosecution intends to pursue charges that reflect what it believes to be a deliberate pattern of conduct designed to benefit SML at the expense of the state.
Legal Objections
But even as the case moves toward arraignment, questions over due process and proper notification have emerged from the camp of the former Finance Minister.
Speaking publicly, his lawyer, Frank Davies, insisted that his client has not yet been served with any formal charges or criminal summons related to the case. According to him, such service is a legal requirement before the former minister can take steps in response.
“What I can say on authority is that my client, Kenneth Ofori-Atta, has not been formally notified or served with any filed charges. He has to be formally served by the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
“It is a criminal summons — it has to be served on him. He has to be notified, including notification of the trial date. Nothing of that sort has been done.”
Frank Davies, Lawyer for former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta
Lawyer Davies did not dismiss the seriousness of the allegations but emphasized the former minister’s respect for legal processes and his willingness to comply when properly informed.
He stressed that allegations, no matter how weighty, must be proven in court and that his client remains committed to playing his part within the legal framework.
“If allegations are raised against you, you are not a demi-god. You are subject to proof in court. So yes, if he is notified, we know what to do as lawyers, and he knows what to do as a responsible citizen of this country. He has not ceased to be a responsible citizen. Once upon a time, he was the Minister for Finance.”
Frank Davies, Lawyer for former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta
The developments set the stage for what is likely to be a closely watched legal battle, with significant implications for public accountability, procurement governance, and the future of revenue administration reforms in Ghana.
The OSP, which has faced public scrutiny over delays in concluding high-profile investigations, sees this case as a demonstration of its renewed resolve to confront corruption in state institutions. Meanwhile, defence lawyers are expected to challenge both procedure and substance as the prosecution begins to roll out its case.
Monday’s court session is expected to clarify the immediate next steps, including bail arrangements, timelines for disclosures, and the prosecution’s strategy regarding suspects outside the country.
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