The corruption trial against Ken Ofori-Atta has been delayed until September 29, 2026. The prosecution authorities continue their attempts to bring the former finance minister to the USA court.
Mr. Ofori-Atta is being charged with 28 counts of corruption and other corruption-related crimes for the revenue assurance arrangements entered into between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
The prosecution party is the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) of Ghana and claims that because of the arrangements, the country has sustained significant monetary losses. As it is stated in the OSP’s case profile, the total sum of losses is approximately GH¢1.44 billion.
Why Has Ken Ofori-Atta’s Case Been Adjourned?
The High Court in Accra adjourned the case on August 27 due to a request by the prosecution to give them more time to effect the summoning of Ofori-Atta and his former chief of staff, Ernest Darko Akore, in the US.
The next hearing is expected on September 29, 2026.
As per the OSP, attempts to summon Ofori-Atta in the case are still ongoing via legal and diplomatic means. At the moment, Ofori-Atta is outside Ghana, and the prosecution is trying to push forward with its case at the High Court.
The most recent update indicates that the August 27 hearing was not an attempt to present any substantive evidence, but instead the court gave the prosecution additional time to complete the summoning process.
What Does Ken Ofori-Atta Stand Accused of?
The allegations against Ofori-Atta arise from the contract signed by SML for revenue assurance services with the Ghana Revenue Authority.
As per the statement by the OSP, efforts have been made to ensure that Mr. Ofori-Atta appears in court through all legal and diplomatic means possible. The former minister is not presently in the country, while the prosecution wishes to push the case forward at the High Court.
This implies that the August 27 hearing will not be where the evidence will begin in the trial. The court gave the prosecution more time to conclude the service of process.
What Are the Charges Against Ken Ofori-Atta?
The criminal cases have mainly been brought forth by the contract between SML and the Ghana Revenue Authority for the provision of revenue assurance services.
The OSP asserts that the above contracts were not necessary, were put in place using some influence, and there were no systems to determine the value for the money the state was receiving.
The OSP further claims that the contracts exposed the country to loss worth about GH¢1.436 billion. Furthermore, the prosecution claims that US$2.8 billion was supposed to be paid to the company over five years, but this should have had parliamentary approval.
Ofori-Atta was first indicted alongside seven other accused persons on 78 counts in November 2025. The charges have since been consolidated such that Ofori-Atta now faces 28 counts.
Just like all other criminal cases, the allegations raised against Ofori-Atta are only allegations until proven guilty in a court of law.
But What about the Allegations Regarding the National Cathedral?
The SML/GRA case is not the only legal matter where Ofori-Atta has been under the scanner.
The OSP has already carried out investigations into various matters relating to the former finance minister, which include financial transactions in relation to the construction of the National Cathedral, procurements of ambulances, the Electricity Company of Ghana and management of GRA tax refund monies.
It is important to note that while this is not the first time that investigations have been conducted against Ofori-Atta, the 28 counts against him at the moment relate only to the SML/GRA matter.
Where Is Ofori-Atta Now Located in the USA?
The location of Ofori-Atta in the USA has now become an important matter in the whole process.
According to the OSP, the agency has been working through legal channels to bring him to Ghana for the purposes of the extradition. The OSP has stated that the extradition process is not related to the immigration procedures of the US but rather to the criminal case in Ghana which is pending in the High Court in Accra.
It can be seen from the OSP’s official website for tracking cases that the extradition processes are ongoing and attempts have been made to serve Ofori-Atta with the required court documents in the USA.
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