The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has reaffirmed its commitment to due process and the rule of law following a decision by INTERPOL’s Commission for the Control of Files (CCF) to delete a Red Notice previously issued at Ghana’s request for former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
In a press release dated 13 February 2026, the OSP confirmed that it had received the Commission’s determination concerning the Red Notice circulated through INTERPOL channels. The Commission directed that the notice be removed under INTERPOL’s rules governing political neutrality and notice processing.
INTERPOL’s Grounds for Deletion
According to the OSP, the Commission cited contextual factors present at the time the Red Notice was issued, including what it described as “polarized political statements from members of current and former administrations about the conduct of the investigation.”
The Commission also referenced public controversy surrounding the prosecutorial and extradition processes, including acknowledgements by senior officials at the Ministry of Justice that extradition could not initially be pursued because the case was at an early procedural stage.
INTERPOL’s Constitution, particularly Article 3, bars the organisation from undertaking activities of a political character. The CCF, which acts as an independent supervisory body, reviews complaints and ensures that data processed through INTERPOL’s systems comply with its rules.
Legal experts note that the deletion of a Red Notice does not amount to a determination on the merits of the underlying criminal case. Rather, it reflects compliance considerations under INTERPOL’s internal regulatory framework.
Arrest and Extradition Proceedings Continue
The OSP further indicated that subsequent developments had rendered the Red Notice unnecessary. It stated that Mr Ofori-Atta’s location had become known, cooperation with United States authorities was ongoing, and extradition processes had already commenced following his arrest in the United States on 6 January 2026.
Summons issued by the Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra have been transmitted for service in the United States, requiring Mr Ofori-Atta to appear before the Ghanaian court to answer multiple criminal charges.
Efforts to secure his appearance are continuing through established legal and diplomatic channels, the OSP said.
Under Ghana’s Extradition Act, 1960 (Act 22) and relevant bilateral agreements, extradition proceedings typically require judicial hearings in the requested country to assess dual criminality, evidentiary sufficiency and procedural safeguards before executive approval is granted.
OSP: Guided Solely by Law and Evidence
In its statement, the OSP reiterated that it remains “guided solely by law and evidence” and is committed to “due process and the fair, lawful, and impartial prosecution of corruption and corruption-related offences.”
The emphasis on legal compliance comes amid heightened public and political scrutiny of the case, which involves one of Ghana’s longest-serving Finance Ministers.
Mr Ofori-Atta held office from 2017 until 2024, overseeing major fiscal policy decisions during a period that included Ghana’s most severe economic crisis in decades. Investigations relate to alleged procurement and financial irregularities during Mr Ofori-Atta’s tenure.
The former minister has consistently denied wrongdoing and is entitled to the presumption of innocence under Ghana’s Constitution.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com