The Office of the Special Prosecutor says it will take the necessary legal steps to get the former Minister of Finance, Mr Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta, to return to Ghana from the United States of America (USA) to answer for multiple charges of alleged corruption.
This was after Mr Kissi Agyebeng, the Special Prosecutor, declared Mr Ofori-Atta, 66, a fugitive from justice.
Addressing a press conference in Accra yesterday, Agyebeng said the charges were related to contractual arrangements between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited and the Ghana Revenue Authority for the stated objective of the enhancement of revenue assurance in the downstream petroleum sector, upstream petroleum production, and minerals and metals resources value chain.
The other charges include termination of a Distribution, Loss Reduction and Associated Network Improvement Project contract between the Electricity Company of Ghana Limited and Beijing Xiao Cheng Technology (BXC).
It also include procurement of contractors and materials; and activities and payments in respect of the National Cathedral project; and activities and payments in respect of a contract awarded by the Ministry of Health (initially commenced by the Ministry for Special Development Initiatives) to Service Ghana Auto Group Limited for purchases and after-sales service and maintenance of 307 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 305 CDI ambulances for the National Ambulance Service.
Others were payments out of and utilisation of the Tax Refund Account of Ghana Revenue Authority.
The facts, according to Mr Agyebeng were that Mr Ofori-Atta left Ghana on or around January 2, 2025.
He said on January 24, 2025, the OSP communicated to Mr Ofori-Atta that the OSP considered him a suspect in respect of four of the cases.
The SP said Mr Ofori-Atta was directed to attend, in person, to the OSP on Monday, February 10, 2025 at 10:00am for interviewing.
Mr Agyebeng explained that by a communication dated January 31, 2025, Mr Ofori-Atta instructed his lawyers to inform the OSP that he was out of the jurisdiction indefinitely on medical grounds and that the firm would notify the OSP of his arrival in the country in aid of rescheduling his personal attendance at the OSP.
Further, the firm offered its willingness to provide the OSP with any information the OSP may require to aid in the investigation until his arrival in the country.
On February 5, 2025, the SP said the OSP responded to Mr Ofori-Atta that the OSP did not need or require notification from his lawyers of his arrival in the jurisdiction.
The SP said the OSP acknowledged Mr Ofori-Atta’s lawyers’ gracious offer to provide the OSP with information in aid of the investigation.
However, he said the OSP insisted that Mr Ofori-Atta’s personal attendance at the OSP was required.
The OSP said it declined Mr Ofori-Atta’s request to be away from the jurisdiction indefinitely on medical grounds on his say-so.
Consequently, the OSP directed Mr Ofori-Atta to indicate by close of business on Monday February 20, 2025, a reasonable date of his return to the jurisdiction and attendance at the OSP.
Mr Agyebeng said the OSP warned Mr Ofori-Atta that if he failed so to do, the OSP would take all necessary legal steps to secure his return to the jurisdiction and attendance at the OSP at our own choosing.
BY MALIK SULLEMANA
The post OSP declares Ken Ofori-Atta wanted …takes legal steps to secure his return to jurisdiction appeared first on Ghanaian Times.
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