The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) has taken down the Red Notice issued earlier this year for former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, a move that has intensified scrutiny on the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and its handling of investigations involving the former minister.
For close to a year, the OSP publicly framed Mr. Ofori-Atta as a fugitive, repeatedly addressing the media, insisting he had evaded lawful summons, and ultimately pursuing an international alert through INTERPOL. All of this occurred before the office filed a single charge in a court of competent jurisdiction.
As of Tuesday morning, however, the Red Notice no longer appears on INTERPOL’s website. The removal, though done without fanfare, represents a major turn in a case that has been dominated by publicity, political tension, and questions about due process.
In a statement shared by persons close to the former minister’s legal team, they noted that while they would not speculate on the exact reason behind INTERPOL’s action, the development “marks a return from the court of public opinion to a courtroom where evidence, not headlines, matters.”
What appears certain is that the withdrawal did not happen in a vacuum. Lawyers for Mr. Ofori-Atta had previously petitioned INTERPOL, arguing that the request submitted by the Ghanaian authorities breached several of the organisation’s constitutional safeguards.
Their complaint emphasised three major points. First, they argued that INTERPOL does not entertain matters that appear to be politically motivated or vindictive in nature. Second, they noted that administrative or procurement-related issues, such as those involving public financial management, fall outside the scope of INTERPOL’s Red Notice system. Finally, they stressed that a Red Notice cannot be issued when no formal charges have been filed in a domestic court.
According to legal sources, when the OSP finally announced charges last week, it inadvertently confirmed the very concerns raised before INTERPOL, that the earlier request had been made without the existence of court-filed charges. Within hours of the charges being publicised, the Red Notice disappeared from INTERPOL’s database.
A governance analyst say the episode paints an uncomfortable picture for Ghana, a country often held up as an example of rule of law and institutional maturity in the sub-region. He said the misuse or misrepresentation of information submitted to INTERPOL can lead to reputational damage, with countries flagged as abusers of the system. Such a list already includes states like Syria, North Korea, Russia and the UAE—nations frequently accused of using INTERPOL for political ends.
“Ghana has long been viewed as a leader in democratic governance. When we mishandle international mechanisms such as this, the embarrassment is collective,” the governance analyst further noted.
Background
Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta was officially placed on Interpol’s Red Notice list.
This move was initiated by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) following the former minister’s failure to return to Ghana for questioning in connection with investigations into questionable transactions during his tenure.
Mr Ofori-Atta is under investigation for allegedly causing financial loss to the state through five major transactions. These include the National Cathedral project, the GRA-SML contract, the termination of the ECG–Beijing Xiao Cheng Technology (BXC) agreement, the ambulance spare parts contract, and payments from the GRA’s Tax Refund Account.
At a press conference held on Monday, 2nd June, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng confirmed that his office had initiated the Interpol Red Notice process and had requested Mr Ofori-Atta’s extradition from the United States, where he is reportedly undergoing medical treatment following an alleged cancer diagnosis.
As a result, Ken Ofori-Atta has been listed as a 65-year-old man, with the charge noted as using public office for profit.
Interpol officially issues red notice for Ghana’s Ken Ofori-Atta amid OSP probe
Interpol officially issues red notice for Ghana’s Ken Ofori-Atta amid OSP probe
Interpol officially issues red notice for Ghana’s Ken Ofori-Atta amid OSP probe
What is a Red Notice?
Interpol officially issues red notice for Ghana’s Ken Ofori-Atta amid OSP probe
A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement authorities worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action. It is not an international arrest warrant.
Individuals are sought by the requesting member country or an international tribunal. Member countries apply their own laws when deciding whether to arrest the person concerned.
The majority of Red Notices are restricted to law enforcement use only.
Extracts of Red Notices are published at the request of the relevant member country, particularly when public assistance may be required to locate an individual or if the person may pose a threat to public safety.
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