Ofori-Atta Has Not Been Notified of Any Criminal Charges in Ghana, Says Lawyer

Former Finance Minister Kenneth Ofori-Atta has not been formally notified of any criminal charges in Ghana, his lawyer Frank Davies has said, adding that his client remains willing to engage with Ghanaian authorities should formal proceedings materialise.

“I have said it time without number. As I speak to you now, Kenneth Ofori-Atta has not been notified of any charges pending against him in any criminal court in Ghana,” Mr Davies told Joy FM’s Middaynews on Tuesday.

The statement comes amid persistent public speculation about potential legal action against the former minister, whose tenure at the Ministry of Finance spanned a period of acute economic distress, including a sovereign debt default and an International Monetary Fund bailout programme.

Mr Davies was emphatic that neither he nor his client had received any formal communication from prosecutors. “If he is notified of the charges, we will respond accordingly. All I can tell you is that we have no notification whatsoever and howsoever, either to me personally as his lawyer or otherwise,” he said.

“So Ken is not aware of any charges against him. If he is not aware of any charges, then my next question is, how does he respond to something he does not know?”

The former minister has been the subject of ongoing scrutiny by the Office of the Special Prosecutor, which has sought his cooperation in multiple investigations. However, no formal charges have been publicly confirmed by the OSP or any other prosecutorial body.

In the interim, Ofori-Atta’s legal standing in the United States has shifted. A US immigration court recently granted his application for adjustment of status, allowing him to obtain permanent residence. The development means that any future legal engagement with Ghanaian authorities would likely require diplomatic or legal processes beyond a simple summons.

The absence of formal charges does not mean the matter is closed. Ghana’s justice system has demonstrated an appetite for pursuing accountability in public office. In the ongoing illegal mining case involving Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, known as Chairman Wontumi, the courts have pressed ahead with prosecution despite contested procedural questions, showing that the judiciary is prepared to act when cases are formally brought.

The political backdrop is also relevant. The Mahama administration has faced its own scrutiny over the scope of its appointments, with opposition figures arguing that claims of a lean government are misleading. The tension between the current government’s reformist rhetoric and the unfinished business of accountability for past officials adds a layer of complexity to the Ofori-Atta question.

For now, the position is straightforward: no charges, no notification, no response required. Whether that changes will depend on the Office of the Special Prosecutor and other state institutions. As Mr Davies put it, “further engagement with Ghanaian authorities will be determined by the relevant state institutions.”

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