INTERPOL has withdrawn the Red Notice issued for former Ghanaian Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta following complaints from his legal team, who argued that the request from Ghana violated the organisation’s governing rules.
According to a statement issued by on social media by close associate to the former Finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta’s lawyers petitioned INTERPOL, citing three key breaches.
“The organisation’s constitution prohibits actions motivated by political persecution or vendetta.
Administrative or procedural matters—such as procurement issues or public financial management lapses—are not grounds for Red Notices.
A Red Notice must be supported by charges filed in a court of competent jurisdiction.”
The lawyers contended that the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s (OSP) allegations against Ofori-Atta did not meet these thresholds. Following the OSP’s public announcement of charges, INTERPOL reportedly removed the Red Notice from its website, a step that sources say signalled acknowledgement of deficiencies in the initial request.
The statement further criticised the OSP, claiming the development places Ghana among “rogue states” accused of abusing INTERPOL systems—citing countries such as Syria, North Korea, Russia and the UAE.
These comparisons, however, remain the opinions of Ofori-Atta’s camp and have not been independently verified.
Background: What Is a Red Notice?
A Red Notice is an alert issued by INTERPOL to member states requesting assistance in locating and provisionally arresting a wanted person pending extradition. It is not an international arrest warrant.
INTERPOL’s rules strictly prohibit involvement in cases deemed political, military, religious, or racial. Requests that violate these principles are typically rejected or withdrawn.
INTERPOL also requires that a Red Notice be supported by a valid national arrest warrant or charges filed before a competent court. Administrative or civil infractions generally fall outside the organisation’s mandate.
Context: OSP Investigation into Ofori-Atta
The OSP recently announced that it had initiated criminal proceedings against Ofori-Atta relating to alleged procurement and financial management breaches.
The former minister has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Legal analysts note that if the charges were administrative or had not yet been formally filed in court, this could conflict with INTERPOL’s criteria for issuing a Red Notice.
The removal of the notice therefore raises questions about whether proper procedures were followed in the request submitted by Ghanaian authorities.
Neither INTERPOL nor the OSP has publicly issued a detailed explanation for the withdrawal. It also remains unclear whether the Ghanaian government will resubmit a revised request, proceed with local prosecution, or take disciplinary action regarding the withdrawn notice.
For now, the development adds another layer of complexity to the high-profile case, drawing renewed attention to the standards governing international law enforcement cooperation and the scrutiny placed on politically sensitive investigations.
Source :www.kumasimail.com
