KEN OFORI-ATTA CANNOT RECEIVE SPECIAL TREATMENT UNDER THE LAW — Felix Kwakye
Minister insists all citizens must be held equally accountable before the law
The Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has stated that former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta is not entitled to any form of preferential treatment under Ghanaian law, despite his former position in government.
Speaking in a one-on-one interview on JOYNEWS’ AM Show on Monday, January 26, 2026, Mr. Kwakye Ofosu emphasised that the rule of law must apply equally to all citizens, including high-profile political figures.
“The former finance minister cannot be treated specially. He cannot be treated differently from how everybody else is treated. If any institution engages in conduct that is contrary to law, there’s a recourse. A court can reign in that state institution,” he said.
Mr. Ofori-Atta, who served as Ghana’s Finance Minister from 2017 to 2024 under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, has been linked to several public controversies involving alleged financial mismanagement and procurement irregularities.
In recent years, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has announced ongoing investigations into multiple transactions approved during his tenure including revenue assurance contracts, aspects of the public debt restructuring programme, and payments made under sole-sourcing arrangements.
Although his lawyers have maintained that he is cooperating with lawful investigations, they say his extended stay in the United States has been driven by medical and security reasons.
Mr. Kwakye Ofosu stressed that Ghana’s legal institutions including the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), and the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) are all bound by law and must operate within due process.
He noted that any person who feels unfairly treated, including Mr. Ofori-Atta, has the right to seek redress in court.
“No institution operates above the law. If someone believes bail conditions or other measures are excessive, the courts exist to ensure fairness and justice,” he added.
Mr. Ofori-Atta’s ongoing immigration case in the United States has further drawn public attention. He appeared before a U.S. court on Tuesday, January 20, following his detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on January 6, 2026, at his Washington D.C. residence after his visa was revoked in June 2025.
The case, presided over by Immigration Judge David Gardey, has been adjourned to April 27, 2026.
Meanwhile, civil society group Arise Ghana held a protest outside the U.S. Embassy in Accra on the same day, demanding that the former minister be extradited to Ghana to face investigations into alleged financial misconduct during his time in office.
Source:NKONKONSA.com
