Pressure group Democracy in Progress is demanding that the criminal case involving former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and his co-accused, Ernest Darko Akore, proceeds through the courts, arguing that accountability must apply irrespective of political affiliation.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the group’s Operation Recover All Loot accountability demonstration, spokesperson Solomon Owusu argued that public office must remain subject to scrutiny where credible evidence points to possible wrongdoing.
Mr Owusu invoked the constitutional principles of probity and accountability, stressing that political office should not shield individuals from the consequences of conduct established through due process. He emphasised that public resources belong to the Republic and must be protected regardless of which administration is in power.
“We reject the notion that accountability should depend on which party is in power. Accountability has no political colour. If wrongdoing occurs under one government, it must be investigated. If it occurs under another government, it must equally be investigated.”
Solomon Owusu
Directing attention to the SML case, the group called for the legal process involving Mr Ofori-Atta and Mr Akore to proceed without political considerations. The Office of the Special Prosecutor has charged Mr Ofori-Atta, Mr Akore and six other accused persons with corruption and corruption related offences over contracts involving Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited and the Ghana Revenue Authority.
Referencing the former Finance Minister’s absence from Ghana, Mr Owusu argued that accountability requires accused persons to submit themselves to the jurisdiction handling the criminal proceedings. The OSP currently lists Mr Ofori-Atta as subject to extradition proceedings, with a High Court warrant remaining in force.
Mr Owusu nevertheless acknowledged the presumption of innocence, emphasising that guilt must be determined by the courts. He therefore framed the group’s demand around allowing the judicial process to establish responsibility through evidence and due process.
On political accountability, Democracy in Progress criticised what it described as a cycle in which parties demand investigations while in opposition but become less willing to pursue scrutiny when they assume power. The group called for the principle of accountability to remain consistent across changes in government.
“What is wrong remains wrong, no matter who does it. What belongs to the Republic belongs to the Republic; what belongs to the taxpayer must be protected.”
Solomon Owusu
The group is expected to use its planned demonstration to press for stronger accountability measures. Its position places the SML prosecution within a wider call for equal application of the law to former officials, serving officials and private individuals.
The Case of the Former Finance Minister
Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta is facing criminal proceedings over the Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited contracts, alongside separate investigations into other financial and procurement matters handled during his tenure at the Ministry of Finance.
Mr Ofori-Atta served as Finance Minister from January 2017 and was responsible for the management of the country’s finances during the period in which several of the matters now under investigation arose.
The most advanced case concerns the SML contracts involving the Ghana Revenue Authority, for which the Office of the Special Prosecutor has charged Mr Ofori-Atta and seven other accused persons with 78 corruption and corruption related offences.
According to the OSP’s case profile, the accused include Mr Akore, who served as Mr Ofori-Atta’s Chef de Cabinet, former GRA commissioners Emmanuel Kofi Nti and Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, former Customs Division commissioners Isaac Crentsil and Kwadwo Damoah, SML chief executive Evans Adusei and SML itself. The allegations are before the courts and the accused remain entitled to the presumption of innocence.
Directing attention to the financial implications identified by prosecutors, the OSP has alleged that the SML arrangements caused financial loss to the Republic of about GH¢1.436 billion and could have resulted in further payments of about US$2.8 billion over five years without the required prior parliamentary authorisation. These figures represent the prosecution’s allegations and remain subject to determination through the legal process.
Beyond SML, the OSP has opened investigations into several other matters involving the former Finance Minister. These include the termination of the Electricity Company of Ghana’s contract with Beijing Xiao Cheng Technology, procurement and financial transactions connected to the National Cathedral, the Ministry of Health’s contract for 307 ambulances and the management of the Ghana Revenue Authority’s Tax Refund Account.
Referencing these cases, Democracy in Progress spokesperson Solomon Owusu argued that Mr Ofori-Atta’s period in public office should not prevent scrutiny of decisions taken while he served as Finance Minister.
The group’s position is that investigations and prosecutions should be determined by evidence and law, without regard to party affiliation or political connections. Mr Owusu therefore urged state institutions to pursue cases where evidence supports criminal action while allowing the courts to determine guilt or innocence.
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