NPP Disputes OSP’s Claim of Ofori-Atta as a Fugitive

KEY POINTS

• NPP rejects OSP’s fugitive label on Ofori-Atta, calling it flawed.
• Ofori-Atta’s legal team had notified authorities of his medical leave.
• NPP warns against political harassment and unlawful dismissals.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has strongly opposed the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s (OSP) decision to declare former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta a fugitive.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra, NPP National Organiser Henry Nana Boakye described the move as legally flawed and damaging to the country’s reputation.

Boakye argued that Ofori-Atta’s legal team had been in active communication with the OSP, making it inappropriate to classify him as a fugitive. He questioned the legal basis for the declaration, citing legal experts who have also criticized the decision.

“It is baffling that a Special Prosecutor, who is both a lawyer and a law lecturer, would label a person of interest—who has not been charged and is in communication with his legal representatives—as a fugitive,” Boakye said.

The controversy escalated when the OSP conducted a raid on Ofori-Atta’s residence on February 11. The NPP called the action unwarranted and politically motivated, further deepening tensions between the government and the opposition party.

Medical leave and legal controversy

The NPP insists that Ofori-Atta has not been evading legal proceedings and had formally notified authorities of his medical leave.

According to Boakye, the former finance minister submitted letters to the Chief of Staff, informing the government of his medical treatment in the U.S..

The timeline of events reveals an ongoing exchange between Ofori-Atta’s legal team and the OSP:

• January 2, 2025 – Ofori-Atta informed the then Chief of Staff, Frema Osei-Opare, of his planned medical trip.
• January 22, 2025 – Another letter was sent to the new Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, with Ofori-Atta’s contact details and willingness to cooperate.
• January 31, 2025 – His lawyers informed the OSP of his medical condition, requesting more time to respond.
• February 7, 2025 – A medical report from the Mayo Clinic confirmed ongoing tests and a potential surgery in March.

Despite these notifications, the OSP declared him a fugitive on February 11, a move the NPP condemned as a blatant disregard for due process.

Political harassment and government appointments

Beyond the Ofori-Atta case, the NPP also raised concerns about what it sees as political harassment of its members.

Boakye criticized the public announcement of investigations against Sheikh Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, a former CEO of the National Petroleum Authority, arguing that he had not even been formally notified.

According to Graphic Online, the NPP also challenged the government’s decision to revoke public service appointments made after December 7, 2024. Boakye called the move unfair and unconstitutional, warning that it would leave thousands of families financially distressed.

The party vowed to resist what it views as political persecution and unlawful dismissals, urging the government to allow due process in both legal and administrative matters.