The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that former Finance Minister Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta returns to Ghana to face justice.
This follows the OSP’s decision to declare Ofori-Atta a wanted person and a fugitive. The office has also raised concerns about the authenticity of a medical letter submitted by his lawyers, which claims he is too ill to travel back to Ghana.
Addressing the press in Accra on Wednesday, February 12, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng expressed skepticism regarding the letter’s legitimacy.
“The OSP is unconvinced that the purported medical letter transmitted by Mr. Ofori-Atta through his lawyers constitutes a valid medical report proving that he is incapacitated or too ill to return to the jurisdiction without jeopardizing his life,” Agyebeng stated.
He stressed that no serious law enforcement body would accept the letter as a legitimate reason for evading an investigation.
“No serious law enforcement agency would be convinced that the purported medical letter prevents it from demanding Mr. Ofori-Atta’s physical appearance. And certainly not the OSP,” he declared.
Agyebeng further asserted that the OSP views the medical excuse as a deliberate attempt to evade accountability.
“We firmly believe this is simply a ruse employed by Mr. Ofori-Atta to avoid returning to Ghana and answering questions regarding the ongoing investigations,” he noted.
According to Agyebeng, Ofori-Atta’s true intentions were revealed in an earlier letter from his lawyers, which stated that he had left Ghana indefinitely.
“Mr. Ofori-Atta has no intention of willingly returning to the jurisdiction. That much is clear,” he said.
As a result, the OSP has vowed to take all necessary legal measures to secure his return.
“The OSP will take every legal step to ensure his return to Ghana and his attendance before the office. Mr. Ofori-Atta, you have two choices: return voluntarily or face enforcement of your return,” Agyebeng warned.
