The special prosecutor of Ghana charged former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta with corruption and listed him as a wanted fugitive on Wednesday.
According to Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng, Ofori-Atta caused financial harm to the state through high-profile government transactions.
“You have two choices: either return to the jurisdiction voluntarily or the OSP (Office of the Special Prosecutor) will enforce your return,” says Agyebeng.
Ofori-Atta, who served under former president Nana Akufo-Addo, is alleged to have authorised the release of substantial state funds for the construction of the controversial National Cathedral project in Accra.
The cathedral was intended to be constructed with private funds and was envisioned by Nana Akufo-Addo as a monument to God after he won the 2016 presidential election.
Public outrage has been triggered by allegations of financial irregularities and the expenditure of $58 million in public funds on the project.
It has also been alleged that the former minister authorised the distribution of $11.8 million at the presidential chief of staff’s request.
The cathedral’s construction has been on hold for the past two years despite the receipt of the cash, which some view as a sign of financial irresponsibility.
Ofori-Atta has come under fire for allegedly neglecting to exercise due diligence and appropriate oversight before authorising the payments.
Beyond the cathedral project, the former minister is also involved in a controversial agreement between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd. (SML), an audit and insurance firm that specialises in the oil industry, and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
The GRA allegedly paid SML more than $83 million in 2019 while Ofori-Atta was in charge, without getting the Public Procurement Authority’s legally needed consent.
Various audit and verification services were paid for; however, questions have subsequently been raised over the contract’s value for money and transparency.
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and other anti-corruption organisations have long demanded that Ofori-Atta be prosecuted. Some of these organisations have filed lawsuits against him, the GRA, and SML to hold him accountable and obtain a return of public funds.
Now, the OSP is in charge of the inquiry and is taking the former minister to court. According to Agyebeng, Ofori-Atta had not indicated that he would willingly return to Ghana to face prosecution.
The current location of Ofori-Atta has not been made public by authorities.
In addition to vowing to prosecute past government officials for any corrupt activities, President John Mahama’s new administration has announced zero tolerance for corruption.
As of right now, the government has received more than 2,000 complaints under its “Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL)” campaign, which aims to collect any state assets that were unjustly acquired by former Akufo-Addo officials.
