The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) says INTERPOL deleted the Red Notice issued against former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta after its oversight body ruled that the notice no longer met the organisation’s requirements on political neutrality and notice processing.
In a statement dated Friday, 13 February 2026, the OSP disclosed that it had received the decision of the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files (CCF), which directed the deletion of the notice issued at Ghana’s request. According to the OSP, the commission cited contextual factors surrounding the issuance of the Red Notice, including what it described as polarised political statements by members of both current and former administrations regarding the conduct of the investigation, as well as public controversy over prosecutorial and extradition processes.
The commission further took note of public acknowledgements by senior officials at the Ministry of Justice that, at the time the notice was issued, Ghana was unable to pursue extradition because the case was still at an early procedural stage. These factors, the OSP said, influenced the CCF’s determination under INTERPOL’s rules on political neutrality.
The OSP explained that subsequent developments also rendered the Red Notice unnecessary, as Mr Ofori-Atta’s location was known, cooperation with United States authorities was ongoing, and extradition processes had already commenced following his arrest in the United States on 6 January 2026.
According to the statement, summons issued by the Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra have since been transmitted for service in the United States, requiring Mr Ofori-Atta to appear and answer multiple criminal charges. The OSP said efforts to secure his appearance before the court are continuing through established legal and diplomatic channels.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor reiterated that it remains guided strictly by law and evidence and remains committed to due process and the fair, lawful and impartial prosecution of corruption and corruption-related offences.
