We’ll take all necessary steps to ensure ofori-Atta returns to Ghana – OSP
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) says it will do everything possible to ensure Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta, former Finance Minister returns to Ghana.
This follows the Office declaring the former Minister wanted and a fugitive of justice. The OSP has also raised doubts about the validity of a medical letter submitted by Ofori-Atta’s lawyers, which claimed he was too ill to return to Ghana.
In a presser in Accra on Wednesday February 12, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng expressed skepticism about the medical letter, stating, “The OSP is unconvinced that the purported medical letter transmitted by Mr. Ofori-Atta through his lawyers to the OSP represents a medical report to the effect that Mr. Ofori-Atta is incapacitated or is so sickly an invalid to the extent that he is physically unable to return to the jurisdiction without imperilling his life.”
Agyebeng emphasised that no serious law enforcement agency would accept the letter as a valid reason for Ofori-Atta’s absence.
“No serious law enforcement agency would be convinced that the purported medical letter estops it from demanding the physical appearance of Mr. Ofori-Atta before it in the described circumstances. And certainly not the OSP,” he stated.
The Special Prosecutor indicated that the OSP believes Ofori-Atta’s medical excuse is a ruse to avoid returning to Ghana and answering questions related to ongoing investigations.
“We are of the firm conviction that it is only a ruse employed by Mr. Ofori-Atta in aid of his intention to avoid his return to the jurisdiction and to personally answer questions in respect of the investigations,” Agyebeng noted.
According to Agyebeng, Ofori-Atta’s true intention was communicated in an earlier letter from his lawyers, which stated that he had left the jurisdiction 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 declared Ofori-Atta a wanted person and vowed to take all necessary legal steps to ensure his return to Ghana.
“The OSP would take all necessary legal steps to secure his return to the jurisdiction and attendance at the OSP. Mr. Ofori-Atta, you have two choices. You can either return to the jurisdiction voluntarily or the OSP will enforce your return,” Agyebeng warned.
