The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has firmly rejected former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta’s request to appear virtually for interrogation, insisting on his physical presence despite his legal team citing serious medical complications.
Ofori-Atta was scheduled to appear before the OSP on Monday, June 2, 2025, but did not show up, with sources close to him confirming a significant deterioration in his health.
His lawyers submitted medical reports to the OSP and the Human Rights Court, detailing his current condition and upcoming surgical procedures, and proposed that he give his cautioned statement virtually under the Electronic Transactions Act.
However, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng stated publicly that the OSP would not accept a virtual appearance, emphasizing that the former minister must be physically present.
Agyebeng said, “This office has always requested his attendance, and we have indicated clearly to him that we are unwilling to waive it. If we were amenable to taking any statement from Ken Ofori-Atta in absentia, we would have done so in February, and not waited till June 2, 2025”
“We want him here physically, and we insist on it. A suspect in a criminal investigation does not pick and choose how the investigative body conducts its investigations and the methods suitable to him and his convenience. We will not countenance this conduct, not in this case,” he added.
He further stressed that legal representation cannot replace the personal attendance of a suspect.
The OSP had earlier declared Ofori-Atta wanted in February 2025 after he failed to appear, but removed him from the wanted list in mid-February following assurances of his return on June 2.
Source: www.kumasimail.com /Kwadwo Owusu
