The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) says other state agencies are also investigating former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta but have not released any findings publicly.
It argues that this has created an unfair perception that the OSP alone has delayed action. The clarification was given during an interview on Joy FM’s Newsfile programme on Saturday, November 23, 2025.
The OSP’s Director of Strategy, Samuel Appiah Darko, said the view that the anti-corruption office had “sat down for everything to vanish” was inaccurate. He explained that while the OSP had completed its investigation and filed charges, “other investigative bodies are investigating Ofori-Atta for different things. Has anyone presented their work yet?”
Mr Appiah Darko noted that criticism of the OSP often ignored the fact that other state agencies had carried out separate inquiries but had not shared their progress with the public.
He said, “We are the only state agency on record that is investigating Ofori-Atta that has at least made a lot of steps and efforts.”
He argued that this uneven visibility has exposed the OSP to public pressure, misinformation and politically driven attacks. “There’s a lot of unfairness against the OSP… when you fight corruption, it fights you back. The people we are fighting are sophisticated, have money, and are able to spread a lot of misinformation,” he stated.
Mr Appiah Darko added that the OSP completed the substantive investigation in under two years.
He said this was record time for a case with cross-border elements. The investigation began after a complaint was filed in December 2023.
The OSP has filed charges against Mr Ofori-Atta in connection with the SML contracts and has applied for a court summons to initiate the trial process.
Mr Appiah Darko confirmed that the service date would be reset because the registry had requested a new schedule. “The registry has called us back and said there has been a few issues, so they will have to reschedule the date,” he said.
He maintained that, despite operational constraints, the OSP had acted professionally and followed due process at each stage.
He said criticism often overlooked the legal requirements surrounding jurisdiction, service of charges and inter-agency work. “We listen to people, but we do not pander to people. We follow due process and we follow the law,” he added.
The OSP says it will serve the charges once the court confirms a new date. Mr Appiah Darko noted that if Mr Ofori-Atta fails to return to Ghana after being served, the court could commit him to prison under Act 30 and begin extradition procedures.
For now, the OSP maintains that while its work is open to public scrutiny, other institutions investigating the former minister must also explain their silence.
