The Member of Parliament for Gushegu, Hassan Tampuli, has cautioned that recent developments surrounding the case involving former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta could be interpreted internationally as politically motivated, particularly by authorities in the United States.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile, the Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee argued that attempts to draw foreign attention to the matter risk undermining Ghana’s legal processes.
Risk of International Misinterpretation
According to Mr Tampuli, efforts to internationalise what he described as a domestic legal issue could inadvertently strengthen claims of political persecution, especially if foreign governments begin to view the case through a partisan lens.
“You are building certain points for the US embassy people or even the American government to believe that, look, this is not just any simple criminal case. It looks like there are political undercurrents,” he stated.
He warned that such perceptions could complicate Ghana’s pursuit of accountability if the case is framed abroad as politically driven rather than legally grounded.
“So, if Ken is building his case on the point that, look, all of this thing is about political persecution,” Mr Tampuli added, “then these actions only help reinforce that narrative.”
Background to the Ofori-Atta Matter
Ken Ofori-Atta served as Ghana’s Finance Minister from 2017 to 2024 under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration. Since leaving office, he has faced sustained public scrutiny over alleged financial mismanagement and procurement-related decisions taken during his tenure.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has announced investigations into several transactions approved under his leadership, including revenue assurance contracts, aspects of the public debt restructuring programme, and sole-sourcing payment arrangements.
Former Minister Currently Abroad
Mr Ofori-Atta is presently outside Ghana, with his legal team insisting that he remains willing to cooperate with lawful investigations. His lawyers have cited health and security concerns as reasons for his temporary stay abroad.
Protest at US Embassy Raises Stakes
Public tension surrounding the case intensified on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, when members of pressure group Arise Ghana staged a protest at the United States Embassy in Accra, calling for the immediate return of the former finance minister to face justice.
The group urged U.S. authorities to cooperate with Ghanaian institutions, arguing that accountability must apply equally to all public officials and that no one should be allowed to evade the law.
Tampuli Urges Caution
However, Mr Tampuli warned that such demonstrations and external pressure could weaken Ghana’s legal standing by lending credibility to claims of political targeting, particularly in an international setting where narratives matter.
He stressed that accountability efforts should remain firmly within Ghana’s legal framework to avoid perceptions that could undermine the credibility of ongoing investigations.
