Ken Ofori-Atta,former Finance Minister, was once again declared a wanted person by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) on Monday,June 2 after failing to comply with an official summons for in-person questioning related to a high-profile financial misconduct investigation.
In a sharply worded statement, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng said the OSP’s patience with Mr. Ofori-Atta “has run out” after what the office described as a pattern of delays and noncooperation in an ongoing criminal inquiry involving allegations of money laundering and causing financial loss to the state.
“We want him here physically, and we insist on it,” Agyebeng said. “A suspect in a criminal investigation does not pick and choose how the investigative body conducts its investigations… We will not countenance this conduct, not in this case.”
Mr. Ofori-Atta, who served as Ghana’s finance chief for over seven years, had reportedly requested to appear virtually due to ongoing medical treatment abroad. His legal team submitted supporting documentation to both the OSP and the Human Rights Court. However, prosecutors rejected the request, maintaining that only an in-person appearance would satisfy procedural requirements.
The declaration returns Mr. Ofori-Atta to the OSP’s wanted list and could trigger further international enforcement mechanisms, including the issuance of an INTERPOL Red Notice.
Source:TheDotNews