Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has directly challenged policy analyst Franklin Cudjoe over claims that the Attorney General is responsible for the failure to sustain an INTERPOL Red Notice against former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
Citing what he describes as Paragraph 40 of the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files (CCF) ruling, Manasseh argues that the decision raises procedural concerns that do not clearly implicate the Attorney General.
The paragraph states that the Commission considered the nature of the charges, the specific timing and the circumstances surrounding the issuance of the Red Notice, the concerns relating to the processing of inaccurate data for months without updates, and the doubts relating to the actual purpose of their registration, before concluding that the case appeared predominantly political and not compliant with Article 3 of INTERPOL’s Constitution.
From this, Manasseh isolates one critical issue: the processing of inaccurate data for months without updates. Who provided the inaccurate data to INTERPOL and failed to update it for months, he asks.
He notes that the Attorney General is responsible for extradition processes, while the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) handles INTERPOL listings. On that basis, he questions the logic of assigning blame to the Attorney General for the Red Notice outcome.
If you have the report that states that the Attorney General is responsible for the OSP’s loss, kindly publish it and let’s all read, he wrote, urging that any such evidence be made public. The focus of his intervention is institutional accountability and clarity over which office handled which aspect of the process.
The exchange follows Franklin Cudjoe’s statement attributing blame for the Red Notice deletion to Attorney General Dominic Ayine. Earlier on Friday, February 14, 2026, the IMANI Africa founder criticized what he characterized as public statements by the Attorney General that undermined Ghana’s case at INTERPOL.
The removal of Ken Ofori-Atta from INTERPOL’s Red Notice system was confirmed in a February 13, 2026 statement by Minkah-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline and Partners. The law firm announced that INTERPOL’s Commission for the Control of Files ruled at its 135th Session that the notice appears of a predominantly political character and does not comply with Article 3 of INTERPOL’s Constitution.
Manasseh’s intervention highlights institutional jurisdictional questions about which government agency bears responsibility for various aspects of international criminal cooperation mechanisms. The Office of the Special Prosecutor typically handles corruption investigations and initiates INTERPOL Red Notices for fugitives wanted for corruption-related offenses.
The Attorney General’s Department, by contrast, manages extradition proceedings once suspects are located and arrested abroad. This includes preparing legal documentation, coordinating with foreign authorities, and representing Ghana in extradition hearings before courts in jurisdictions where wanted persons are detained.
The distinction matters for accountability purposes because different offices control different stages of the process. If the CCF found problems with inaccurate data or failure to update information, responsibility would likely rest with whichever office provided and maintained that data within INTERPOL’s system.
Franklin Cudjoe’s criticism of the Attorney General appears to focus on public statements that Cudjoe believes characterized the Red Notice request as politically motivated, potentially influencing INTERPOL’s assessment. However, Manasseh’s challenge demands concrete evidence demonstrating a causal link between any Attorney General statements and the CCF’s decision.
The CCF ruling cited multiple factors beyond public statements, including the nature of charges, timing and circumstances of the Red Notice issuance, data processing concerns, and doubts about registration purposes. This multifaceted reasoning suggests the decision resulted from comprehensive review rather than singular causes.
Ken Ofori-Atta served as Finance Minister from 2017 to 2024 under President Nana Akufo-Addo. The OSP issued the Red Notice in connection with investigations into alleged corruption involving contracts awarded to Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML), a company in which Ofori-Atta allegedly held interests.
The former minister was arrested by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement on January 6, 2026. His legal team is expected to mount a defense against extradition based on claims of political persecution, an argument strengthened by INTERPOL’s determination that the Red Notice appeared predominantly political.
The deletion of the Red Notice significantly complicates efforts to bring Ofori-Atta back to Ghana for prosecution. While the OSP can still pursue domestic legal proceedings and seek extradition through bilateral channels, the loss of INTERPOL cooperation removes international arrest coordination mechanisms that facilitate fugitive apprehension across multiple jurisdictions.
Manasseh’s demand for evidence reflects broader concerns about accountability in Ghana’s anti-corruption efforts. When high-profile cases encounter setbacks, clarity about institutional responsibilities becomes essential for identifying systemic weaknesses and implementing corrective measures.
The journalist’s focus on institutional roles rather than personalities suggests interest in procedural integrity beyond partisan considerations. His call for Franklin Cudjoe to publish any report implicating the Attorney General emphasizes transparency and evidence-based accountability over speculation or political attribution.
