Government Communications Minister Felix Kwakye Ofosu has rejected any suggestion that Ken Ofori-Atta should receive exceptional treatment under Ghana’s legal system, insisting that the former finance minister is subject to the same laws and procedures as every other citizen.
Mr Ofori-Atta, who served as finance minister from 2017 until 2024 under the New Patriotic Party administration, has remained a polarising figure in public discourse, largely due to allegations of financial impropriety and questions surrounding procurement decisions taken during his time in office.
Those concerns have informed a series of investigations announced by the Office of the Special Prosecutor, which has been examining transactions linked to revenue assurance contracts, elements of the public debt restructuring programme, and payments executed through sole-sourcing arrangements.
Although the former finance minister’s legal team has consistently stated that he is prepared to cooperate with any lawful inquiry, they have attributed his continued stay outside Ghana to health-related and security reasons.
Addressing the matter during a one-on-one interview on JOYNEWS’ AM Show on Monday, January 26, Mr Kwakye Ofosu emphasised that equality before the law remains a core principle of Ghana’s democracy, and that state institutions can be held accountable when they exceed their mandate.
“The former finance minister cannot be treated specially. He cannot be treated differently from how everybody else is treated. If any institution engages in conduct that is contrary to law, there’s a recourse. A court can reign in that state institution,” he said.
The minister further explained that law enforcement and investigative bodies, including the Economic and Organised Crime Office, the Criminal Investigations Department and the National Intelligence Bureau, are bound by legal limits. According to him, individuals who believe that bail conditions or other enforcement measures are excessive retain the right to challenge such decisions in court.
Meanwhile, Mr Ofori-Atta’s situation abroad has added another dimension to the unfolding controversy. On Tuesday, January 20, he appeared before a court in the United States after U.S. immigration authorities took action over his legal status.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested him on January 6, 2026, at his residence at the Westlight Building in Washington D.C., following the revocation of his visa in mid-2025.
The case was heard by immigration judge David Gardey, who adjourned proceedings to April 27, 2026.
Developments surrounding the former finance minister have continued to draw public reaction in Ghana. On the same day as the court appearance, pressure group Arise Ghana held a protest outside the United States Embassy in Accra, calling for Mr Ofori-Atta to be returned to Ghana to face investigations over alleged financial misconduct.
