The Director of Strategy, Research, and Communication at the Office of the Special Prosecutor, Samuel Appiah Darko, has stated that without a valid report, illness can never be used as an excuse to evade law enforcement.
His comments come on the back of rumors circulating that a medical report from the Mayo Clinic in the United States of America implies that Ken Ofori-Atta, the former Minister of Finance, is facing some health challenges.
In an interview on JoyNews’ The Pulse, Mr. Samuel Appiah Darko stated that the said medical report from the Mayo Clinic about the current health condition of Ken Ofori-Atta has not been submitted to the OSP.
He evidently stated that Mr. Ofori-Atta’s continuous absence from Ghana cannot be justified in the absence of a proper medical certification that specifically states that he is medically unfit to travel.
“Whether the Mayo Clinic has certified him or not—unless they have stated that he is so unwell that he cannot travel—nothing stops Mr. Ofori-Atta from returning to Ghana and facing the OSP. After that, he can return abroad to continue any treatment or engagements,” he said in the interview.
He added that until a report states that one is completely incapacitated, nothing prevents anyone from showing up to face law enforcement.
Mr. Darko also stated that Mr. Ofori-Atta has been given several opportunities to make an appearance before the OSP for questioning; hence, his excuse of being ill will not be accepted.
“Short of that, no other excuse is acceptable. What we are saying is that he has simply decided not to appear, despite having been given multiple opportunities.”
The OSP, meantime, has flatly denied the alleged medical report that has been making the rounds, claiming that neither Mr. Ofori-Atta nor his legal team have provided it with any such records.
In other related stories,
Ghana’s former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, had until Monday, June 2, 2025, to appear before the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) or face being declared a fugitive from justice. In a bold move, the OSP has also stated it will activate an INTERPOL Red Notice, effectively making Ofori-Atta internationally wanted.
