The long-awaited prosecution of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and seven others formally begins today, Thursday, December 11, following the filing of a 78-count indictment alleging corruption and financial loss to the state.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) announced the commencement of the trial on its official social media page, stating, “The trial of Kenneth Ofori-Atta and 7 others is expected to start today at Criminal Court 5.”
The case follows the prosecution’s filing of charges in November 2025, accusing Ofori-Atta and his co-accused of corruption and corruption-related offences primarily linked to the Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) contracts and related public procurement matters.
According to court documents, the eight accused—including Ernest Darko Akore, Emmanuel Kofi Nti, Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, Isaac Crentsil, Kwadwo Damoah, Evans Adusei, and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited itself—are alleged to have caused significant financial loss to the state through unlawful payments, procurement breaches, and other irregularities during government contracts between 2018 and 2024.
The OSP assured the public that all necessary legal steps have been taken to initiate proceedings and emphasised that the matter will be handled in accordance with Ghana’s legal framework. The office also dismissed claims that the trial is being rushed, describing such accusations as unfounded.
While some of the accused, including Mr. Ofori-Atta, are currently outside Ghana and have cited health reasons for their absence, the OSP confirmed that it has applied appropriate legal mechanisms, including summonses and cooperation with international law enforcement where applicable, to ensure that all accused appear as required by law.
The trial is expected to attract widespread attention across the country, coming at a time of heightened debate about the future of the OSP, with civil society and some members of Parliament calling either for the strengthening or the dissolution of the anti-corruption institution.
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