Ken Ofori-Atta, former Finance Minister, has successfully undergone surgery for prostate cancer at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, according to a statement released by his family.

The procedure — a robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy — took place on Friday, June 13, and lasted more than four hours. His wife, Professor Angela Ofori-Atta, confirmed in a statement Monday that the operation was successful and that the medical team is satisfied with the outcome.

“The doctors are pleased with how the procedure went and will now place him on a postoperative regime,” she said.

The surgery comes at a turbulent time for Mr. Ofori-Atta, who is the subject of an ongoing investigation by Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) over multiple allegations of corruption and procurement breaches during his tenure at the Finance Ministry. His wife described the days leading up to the operation as “very difficult,” particularly after the OSP issued a public red alert against him just before the surgery.

“Kenneth has always been resilient. But this has been very difficult; with the OSP choosing the period just before his surgery to declare a red alert on him,” Prof. Ofori-Atta said.

Despite the mounting legal and political pressure, she added, Mr. Ofori-Atta remains in stable condition and is focused on recovery. “Our family is truly grateful for the support and prayers of many people and pastors,” she noted.

Mr. Ofori-Atta served as Ghana’s Finance Minister from 2017 until 2024 and was widely seen as the architect of several key fiscal reforms during the administration of President Nana Akufo-Addo. His tenure, however, drew sharp scrutiny from opposition lawmakers and civil society groups, particularly in the wake of Ghana’s debt restructuring and IMF bailout in 2023.

The OSP’s investigation is centered on a series of high-profile government transactions that took place under his watch. These include:

• Petroleum and Minerals Revenue Assurance: Contracts involving Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
• Electricity Contract Termination: The cancellation of a deal between the Electricity Company of Ghana and Beijing Xiao Cheng Technology (BXC).
• National Cathedral Project: Questions surrounding procurement and financial transactions tied to the controversial religious infrastructure initiative.
• Ambulance Procurement: A Health Ministry agreement with Service Ghana Auto Group Limited for the purchase and maintenance of 307 ambulances.
• GRA Tax P-Fund Management: Oversight and disbursement of funds from the GRA’s Tax P-Fund account.

Source:TheDotNews