The Director of Strategy, Research and Communication Division at the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), Sammy Darko, has dismissed the medical report released by the lawyers of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta as an “afterthought.”
This comes after Mr. Ofori-Atta’s legal team purportedly submitted a letter from the Mayo Clinic—where he is receiving treatment—to the OSP, detailing his health condition amid ongoing investigations.
The report, which was also shared with sections of the media, revealed that the former minister had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and is scheduled to undergo surgery in June 2025.
The letter stated: “The former finance minister has undergone an MR-guided biopsy and has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Surgical intervention has been deemed necessary after the testing and MRI biopsy procedure in March 2025, as I indicated in my February letter. This surgical procedure has been scheduled for June with Dr. Paras Shah of the Department of Urology.”
However, Sammy Darko questioned the timing and authenticity of the disclosure.
In an interaction with Citi News, he criticised the decision to make the document public through the media while failing to submit it formally to the OSP.
“If you have this and you won’t show this to the SP or the office, but you can share it with Asaase Radio—fake afterthought,” Darko remarked.
The former finance minister was scheduled to meet the OSP physically on Monday, June 2, but failed to honour the invitation, prompting the OSP to issue a wanted notice on Ken Ofori-Atta, and formally requested an INTERPOL Red Notice, which could lead to Mr. Ofori-Atta’s international arrest and extradition.
According to the OSP, the move follows the former minister’s repeated failure to honour invitations for questioning in connection with ongoing corruption investigations.
Key Issues Under Investigation
Petroleum and Minerals Revenue Assurance
– Contractual arrangements between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
Electricity Company Contract Termination
– Termination of a contract between the Electricity Company of Ghana and Beijing Xiao Cheng Technology (BXC).
National Cathedral Project
– Procurement procedures and financial transactions related to the National Cathedral.
Ambulance Procurement
– A Ministry of Health contract with Service Ghana Auto Group Limited for the purchase and maintenance of 307 ambulances.
GRA Tax P-Fund Management
– Handling and disbursement of funds from the Tax P-Fund Account of the GRA.
Timeline of Events
January 2025
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) officially notified Mr. Ofori-Atta that he was a suspect in five separate cases and requested his appearance on February 10, 2025.
31st January 2025
His lawyers informed the OSP that he was abroad indefinitely for medical reasons and offered to represent him in his absence.
5th February 2025
The OSP rejected the claim of indefinite absence and demanded a firm return date by 10 February 2025, warning of legal consequences. It also reminded that legal representatives cannot respond to criminal charges on behalf of clients.
10th February 2025
His lawyers submitted a doctor’s note (not addressed to any specific party), indicating he was undergoing tests and possibly surgery, with no clear return date.
12th February 2025
With no further cooperation, the OSP declared Mr. Ofori-Atta a fugitive from justice, acting on an arrest warrant.
18th February 2025
Mr. Ofori-Atta appealed to the OSP for removal from the ‘Wanted List’ and, for the first time, provided a definite return date in May 2025. The OSP accepted this assurance and removed his name from the list.
Legal Challenge
March 2025
Mr. Ofori-Atta filed a lawsuit against the OSP and the Special Prosecutor, seeking compensation for what he described as an unlawful declaration of him as wanted. He also requested the removal of related content from the OSP’s social media platforms.
28 March 2025
The Human Rights Court heard an interim application from Mr. Ofori-Atta, asking the court to restrain the OSP from declaring him wanted again.
