The trial of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta is set to resume on Thursday, August 27, 2026, following a Supreme Court ruling affirming the constitutional validity of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) Act, 2017 (Act 959).
The OSP announced the resumption of proceedings in a Facebook post on Monday, August 10.
The development follows a unanimous Supreme Court decision upholding the constitutionality of the OSP Act, which had been at the centre of legal challenges over the anti-graft agency’s authority to investigate and prosecute corruption-related offences.
Proceedings in several OSP cases had been put on hold since April 2026 after a High Court ruling raised questions about the Office’s prosecutorial powers and whether prior authorisation was required before it could prosecute cases.
Ofori-Atta is facing 28 counts of corruption and corruption-related offences arising from investigations into revenue assurance contracts between the Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
The OSP initially charged Mr Ofori-Atta and seven other persons with 78 counts in November 2025. Following amendments to the charges, the former Finance Minister is now facing 28 counts, while the other accused persons are facing various charges in connection with the case.
Those standing trial alongside Ofori-Atta include former GRA Commissioners-General Emmanuel Kofi Nti and Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah; former Customs Commissioner Isaac Crentsil; former Customs Commissioner Kwadwo Damoah; SML Chief Executive Officer Evans Adusei; and former Chief of Cabinet to Mr Ofori-Atta, Ernest Darko Akore.
The prosecution alleges that the accused persons were involved in various acts of corruption and corruption-related offences linked to the SML-GRA revenue assurance arrangements.
Meanwhile, Ofori-Atta has secured permanent residency in the United States after a US Immigration Court granted his application for adjustment of status.
His lawyers announced in June 2026 that the court had approved his Green Card petition.
The development followed immigration proceedings in the United States during which issues concerning his stay in the country and actions taken by Ghana’s authorities were considered.
However, the OSP has rejected any suggestion that the US immigration decision determined the merits of the criminal case pending against Mr Ofori-Atta in Ghana.
The anti-graft agency said it was not a party to the US immigration proceedings and stressed that its involvement in the matter concerns extradition proceedings being pursued through the Attorney-General.
The OSP also clarified that the extradition packet was not before the US Immigration Court and, therefore, any findings made in the immigration proceedings should not be interpreted as a determination on the credibility or otherwise of the criminal charges filed in Ghana.
Despite being granted permanent residency, the OSP maintains that Ofori-Atta remains a Ghanaian citizen and could still be extradited to Ghana if the US extradition court so decides.
Leave a Comment