Key Points
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Ken Ofori-Atta wanted by Interpol was spotted in Washington D.C.
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Ghana’s corruption probe tests accountability for political leaders.
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Failure to extradite risks weakening the nation’s anti-corruption fight.
Former Ghanaian Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, wanted by Interpol after being declared a fugitive by Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor, has been seen in Washington, D.C.
Ofori-Atta faces allegations of abusing public office for personal gain. In June, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng placed him on Interpol’s red notice list after he failed to attend a corruption probe interview.
The move followed months of frustration from prosecutors, who accused the former minister of deliberately avoiding their summons.
Why Ken Ofori-Atta is wanted by Interpol
The Special Prosecutor is investigating Ofori-Atta over five major issues from his time in office. These include oil and mineral revenue contracts, the cancellation of a deal with a Chinese power company, spending tied to the National Cathedral, an ambulance purchase, and the management of a tax fund account.
In January, investigators formally notified him and asked that he appear in person. His lawyers argued he was abroad receiving medical treatment and could not return immediately. They sought to represent him instead, but prosecutors rejected this, insisting that he appear in Ghana.
After repeated no-shows, the OSP declared him a fugitive. He was briefly taken off the wanted list earlier this year but was reinstated in June and placed on Interpol’s global database.
Accountability at stake
Ofori-Atta served as finance minister for seven years, a time marked by rising debt and public anger over government spending.
His refusal to appear before investigators has now turned into a broader debate about accountability.
For many Ghanaians, the case is about fairness as much as corruption. Ordinary citizens must face the law directly, yet a former top official appears to move freely abroad while wanted at home.
Ghana’s anti-corruption fight on trial
The OSP has pushed the case with determination, but the real test will be whether Ghana can secure Ofori-Atta’s return. If he remains abroad despite the Interpol notice, the country’s anti-corruption drive could lose credibility.
Still, some officials argue that the case offers a chance to prove no one is above the law. For a nation weary of scandals, showing accountability at the highest level could help restore public trust in Ghana’s institutions.
