The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has officially removed former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta from its wanted persons list after his legal team communicated his scheduled return to Ghana in May 2025.

This announcement follows a period of uncertainty about Ofori-Atta’s whereabouts, which led the OSP to declare him wanted as part of its investigation into corruption-related offences.

The former minister had been under investigation for alleged financial misconduct during his time in office, but his exact location had been unclear, complicating efforts to proceed with the inquiry.

However, following communications from Ofori-Atta’s lawyers on February 18, 2025, the OSP confirmed that the former minister would return to Ghana on a specified date in May. His legal representatives assured the OSP that Ofori-Atta is fully committed to cooperating with the investigation upon his return.

This development marks a significant shift after the OSP initially declared Ofori-Atta a fugitive from justice on February 12, 2025. The OSP had previously directed the former finance minister to attend a scheduled interview in Accra regarding the corruption-related investigations.

The situation changed dramatically after Ofori-Atta’s legal team communicated his intention to return voluntarily to Ghana. The OSP, in response, deemed the stated return date reasonable and agreed to reschedule the interview accordingly.

Consequently, Ofori-Atta has been removed from the OSP’s wanted list and is no longer considered a fugitive from justice—pending his voluntary return.

The OSP also made it clear that if Ofori-Atta fails to return to Ghana or attend the rescheduled interview, he will be re-entered on the wanted list and considered a fugitive from justice once again.

The OSP stressed that it will take all necessary legal actions to ensure his return and participation in the investigation.

Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has criticised the March 31 deadline set by President John Mahama for government appointees to declare their assets, describing it as too far off.

Mr Kpebu argued that the constitution requires appointees to declare their assets before assuming office, not months after.

Speaking on The Pulse on JoyNews on Tuesday, February 18, he referred to Article 286(1) of the 1992 Constitution, which states that public office holders must submit a written declaration of their assets and liabilities to the Auditor-General “before taking office.”

“The March 31 deadline is too long. The Constitution is clear, it should be done before taking office. Initially, we heard two weeks, but now it has been pushed to the end of March 31st. We can do better,” Mr Kpebu said.

He explained that while Act 500, the Public Office Holders (Declaration of Assets and Disqualification) Act, allows up to six months for asset declaration, that law contradicts the constitution. He emphasised that the constitution is the supreme law, and any law inconsistent with it is void.

Mr Kpebu further noted that civil society activist, Mensah Thompson, has already challenged the six-month provision in court, and the Supreme Court is expected to give a ruling on the matter.

He stressed the importance of immediate asset declaration, warning that delaying the process exposes appointees to corruption.

“When ministers assume office, big contractors quickly come around to introduce themselves, and business deals start almost immediately. Delaying asset declaration gives room for questionable transactions,” he added.

Read Also: Mahama submits his asset declaration form to Auditor-General

Mr Kpebu called on President Mahama to reconsider the March 31 deadline and ensure that asset declarations align strictly with the constitutional requirement.

“We should appeal to the President to look at this again. The constitution is the supreme law, and we must follow it,” he said.

Read also: Mahama to gov’t appointees: Declare your assets or face sanctions, including dismissal

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Alex Mould in a group photo with management and staff of MiDA

In a significant leadership transition at the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), Alexander Mould has assumed the position of Acting Chief Executive Officer. He brings with him a proven track record of excellence and a depth of expertise from both the private and public sectors, with over three decades in finance, energy, and governance.

During his inaugural address to the MiDA team, Mould emphasized his collaborative leadership style and acknowledged the wealth of experience within the organization. “I am, first and foremost, a people person,” Mould stated, expressing his readiness to learn from the existing team. “I will be relying heavily on your expertise and institutional knowledge to bring me up to speed so we can collectively deliver the results expected from this important institution.”

Mr. Mould previously served as the CEO of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), where he spearheaded transformative reforms at both organizations, driving operational excellence and growth. At MiDA, he is expected to bring a fresh perspective on aligning the institution’s objectives with the government’s development priorities.

Hence, a key focus of Mould’s vision at MiDA involves strengthening the organization’s alignment with government initiatives, particularly the proposed 24-hour economy program. He outlined plans to engage in substantive discussions with government stakeholders to identify opportunities for MiDA to take on a more prominent role in the nation’s development agenda.

He highlighted the immediate priority of having meaningful conversations with government officials to explore effectively integrating programs that will support the 24-hour economy initiative, as well as the importance of synchronization between MiDA’s activities and the government’s broader growth agenda, stressing that “MiDA needs to be in perfect sync with the government’s vision.”

Emphasizing the importance of cross-ministerial collaboration, he stated that MiDA would actively work with various ministries to identify and potentially assume management of strategic projects to ensure effective project management and implementation, delivering tangible results for Ghana.

Looking toward the future, Mr. Mould articulated an ambitious vision for his tenure at MiDA. He expressed gratitude to President Mahama for the opportunity, entrusting him to transform MiDA into a world-class project implementation organization to deliver his government’s flagship projects in support of the 24-hour economy agenda. “The legacy I want to leave,” he shared, “is to establish MiDA as the government of Ghana’s go-to project implementation unit.”

The appointment of Alex Mould marks a new chapter for MiDA, with a renewed focus on alignment with national development goals and efficient project implementation. His emphasis on collaborative leadership and strategic alignment with government initiatives suggests a potentially transformative period ahead for the organization as a key player in achieving the government’s broader growth agenda.