Ken Ofori-Atta’s legal team has rejected the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s (OSP) decision to declare him a fugitive, arguing that it was unwarranted and premature.
“That should not have taken place in the first place. If you look at the series of correspondence between the OSP and lawyers for Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, it was evident that the parties were having communications and were discussing possible dates for the investigation or for his attendance,” stated Bright Okyere Agyekum, a member of Ofori-Atta’s legal team, during an interview on TV3’s Agenda show.
He explained that discussions between both parties were still ongoing, making the decision to declare Ofori-Atta a fugitive unnecessary.
“The parties had not concluded their deliberations, so with a little more time, they would have settled on what they settled on today [the returning date]. So I think that he ought not to have been declared a fugitive or a person fleeing from justice.”
Ofori-Atta’s legal representatives insisted that he never indicated an indefinite stay outside the country.
“Let me state on record that it has never been Ofori-Atta’s case that he said he was out of the country indefinitely. He has never posted himself as such; he has already been ready to avail himself,” Okyere Agyekum emphasized.
On February 12, 2025, the Special Prosecutor issued a public notice declaring Ofori-Atta a wanted man, alleging that he failed to provide a clear timeline for his return despite being under investigation for alleged corruption-related offenses.
The OSP had requested his presence in Accra for questioning. However, by February 18, 2025, his legal team confirmed a definite date for his return.
His lawyers maintain that given the ongoing engagement with the OSP, the decision to label him a fugitive was both unnecessary and avoidable.
