The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has rejected claims of a rift with the Attorney-General’s Office over the extradition of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, who is the subject of a widening corruption investigation
Sammy Darko, Director of Strategy, Research, and Communication at the OSP, said the delay in initiating the extradition process stems from ongoing investigative work, not institutional conflict. “There is no bad blood between the OSP and the Attorney-General, nor is there any contention over the case docket,” Darko wrote in a Facebook post. “The issue at hand is primarily one of timing.”
Ofori-Atta, who served as Ghana’s finance chief until earlier this year, has been placed on a wanted list and is the subject of an Interpol Red Notice, as the OSP pursues multiple corruption-related charges. According to Darko, investigators are finalizing their findings and preparing to submit the necessary documentation to the Attorney-General, who oversees formal extradition proceedings.
The clarification comes amid growing speculation of internal disagreements and public calls for faster legal action. Darko acknowledged the mounting pressure but urged patience, noting the complexities of prosecuting politically exposed persons. “The same courtesy of time granted to the Attorney-General in politically sensitive cases should be extended to the OSP,” he said.
He also raised concerns over recent leaks of case information, warning that unauthorized disclosures could endanger officers and undermine the integrity of the investigation. “Certainly, the leak could not have originated from the OSP. The Office would never compromise the safety of its officers or jeopardize a case it has pursued diligently since February,” Darko stated.
Under Ghanaian law, the OSP operates as an independent prosecutorial agency with jurisdiction over corruption and related offences, while the AG is responsible for executing international extradition requests. The OSP is expected to submit its final case materials to the AG this week to facilitate the next steps in the legal process.
