Edem Senanu, a Co-Chair of the Citizens Movement Against Corruption, has blamed the legal team of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta for the issuance of an Interpol Red Notice against their client.
His comments follow Interpol’s June 5 listing of Ofori-Atta as “Wanted,” after the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) re-declared him wanted for failing to appear for a scheduled interrogation on June 2.
At a press conference on June 2, the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, announced that extradition proceedings had been initiated to bring the former minister back to Ghana.
Speaking on Channel One’s Newsroom with Charles Owusu Kumi on Sunday, June 8, Mr. Senanu criticised Ofori-Atta’s lawyers for failing to submit adequate medical documentation to justify his absence.
“Unfortunately, it appears that Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta and his lawyers left the OSP with no choice. From the earlier engagements, they had committed to ensuring that he would be available on June 2,” Senanu said.
He revealed that the OSP had long requested a credible medical report detailing Ofori-Atta’s condition and treatment schedule, but none was provided.
“Even in the earlier engagements, the issue of concern has always been, where’s the medical report that confirms his circumstances, the procedures and what timelines. And so, in terms of due diligence, a credible piece of evidence for any professional institution to say, okay, we can go with this,” he noted.
Senanu also argued that the legal team could have helped verify Ofori-Atta’s health claims by facilitating direct communication between the OSP and his medical providers—an action he said could have prevented the escalation.
“What the lawyers could have done was to facilitate an engagement between the OSP and identify which medical facility and its team of leadership. Just an assurance that these things are happening and what have you. It didn’t happen… Without the supporting evidence, they left the OSP with no choice, and I think it’s a very unfortunate situation,” he stated.
Senanu described the development as regrettable and preventable, stressing the need for transparency and better cooperation when dealing with state institutions.
—citinewsroom
