KEY POINTS
- Ofori-Atta INTERPOL red notice removed after legal review.
- Lawyers accuse OSP of misleading public statements.\
- Concerns raised over political persecution and human rights.
Law firm Minkah-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline & Partners, representing former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, has accused the Office of the Special Prosecutor of misleading the public.
The lawyers say the OSP misrepresented the removal of Ofori-Atta’s INTERPOL red notice. In a letter dated November 24, 2025, the firm accused the OSP of falsely claiming in its November 19 press release that INTERPOL had merely “redacted” the red notice and was reviewing it routinely through its Commission for the Control of Files.
Ofori-Atta INTERPOL red notice removed after legal review
According to the lawyers, there was no routine redaction. INTERPOL completely blocked the red notice after a detailed legal assessment found it violated the organisation’s rules.
On June 11, 2025, the law firm submitted an application to the CCF, arguing that the notice breached Articles 2 and 3 of INTERPOL’s constitution, including Ofori-Atta’s rights to health and protection from politically motivated prosecution.
After submitting additional evidence between September 8 and November 3, the lawyers said the CCF concluded that the conditions for publication were not met.
On November 17, 2025, INTERPOL took the red notice down, and the CCF formally notified the lawyers on November 19 that access was suspended pending a full legality review. The firm emphasised that such suspensions are rare and indicate “strong issues of compliance.”
Lawyers say OSP created impression of routine procedure
The legal team criticised the OSP for withholding critical facts in its press release. They accused the office of creating a false impression that the red notice removal was routine, rather than legally compelled.
The lawyers warned that public statements by OSP officials risked exposing Ofori-Atta to harm and undermined international legal integrity.
They also raised concerns over political persecution, noting threats to transfer Ofori-Atta to Ghana while he was undergoing surgery in the United States. The lawyers urged the OSP to correct “manifestly erroneous” statements and respect their client’s human rights.
