Ex-Finance Minister’s Health Delays OSP Probe
Ken Ofori-Atta, Ghana’s former Finance Minister, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and is scheduled for surgery on June 13, 2025, at the Mayo Clinic in the United States. A letter from the clinic’s Department of Urology confirmed the diagnosis after tests, including an MRI and biopsy. The surgery, to be led by Dr. Paras Shah, requires recovery time, preventing Ofori-Atta from traveling back to Ghana immediately.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) is investigating Ofori-Atta and has summoned him to appear by June 2, 2025. His legal team informed the OSP on May 28 that his health condition would prevent him from returning in time. They proposed a virtual interview to cooperate with the investigation, citing Ghana’s Electronic Transactions Act.
However, the OSP stated that it has not received any official medical letter from Ofori-Atta or his lawyers to confirm his condition. The agency noted that a supposed medical letter was shared through media outlets rather than submitted directly. The OSP emphasized that no certified medical records have been provided to show Ofori-Atta is unable to travel.
This development follows earlier tensions, as the OSP had declared Ofori-Atta a wanted person in February 2025 after he missed a prior summons. His lawyers had submitted a doctor’s note in February, mentioning tests and possible surgery without a clear return date. The ongoing health issue now complicates the legal proceedings.
As the surgery date approaches, the situation raises questions about how the OSP will proceed. Ofori-Atta’s offer for a virtual interview may provide a way forward, but the lack of formal medical documentation remains a sticking point in the investigation.