Former Attorney-General Martin Amidu has criticised the government’s handling of matters involving former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, saying authorities should have focused on encouraging his voluntary return to Ghana.
Amidu said government officials were aware that Ofori-Atta had travelled abroad for medical treatment but still took steps that increased public attention around the case.
“The Government had notice that Mr. Ofori-Atta was abroad for medical treatment for what turned out to be prostate cancer,” he stated.
According to Amidu, Ofori-Atta had already expressed his willingness to return to Ghana after completing his treatment.
“Ken Ofori-Atta voluntarily offered to return to Ghana after his medical treatment abroad,” he wrote.
He also mentioned the search conducted at Ofori-Atta’s residence while he was outside the country, arguing that the incident contributed to the controversy surrounding the investigation.
Amidu further questioned the decision to declare Ofori-Atta a fugitive and the move that led to an INTERPOL Red Notice being issued against him.
He said such actions could have made it harder to secure Ofori-Atta’s cooperation.
“Any responsible law enforcement agency with in-depth knowledge of security and intelligence would have continued to cajole him to return to the country after his treatment abroad instead of humiliating him and bringing his reputation into disrepute internationally,” he stated.
The former Special Prosecutor argued that the approach taken by investigators allowed Ofori-Atta to challenge actions taken against him.
“The OSP has now provided legitimate and justifiable reasons for Ken Ofori-Atta to sit out his persecution in the US to preserve his health, contest the Red Notice, and fight extradition as long as Kissi Agyebeng remains the SP,” he said.
Amidu also referred to the challenge against the INTERPOL Red Notice, saying the outcome should encourage authorities to review how similar cases are handled.
“It happened that Ken Ofori-Atta won his challenge to the unlawful application and the issuance of an INTERPOL Red Notice against him,” he wrote.
He stressed that while accountability is necessary, law enforcement agencies must also respect due process and ensure fairness when dealing with suspects who are willing to cooperate.
Amidu maintained that efforts to bring individuals before investigators should not undermine their rights or create the impression that justice is being handled unfairly.
