The Herald has learned that former President Nana Akufo-Addo is profoundly troubled by the escalating controversy involving the former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, concerning issues that have emerged from his nearly eight-year tenure at the Finance Ministry.
The former President is requesting a safe passage for the man who was once celebrated as a financial genius when he touches down at Kotoka International Airport to respond to numerous allegations and prove his innocence.
Sources indicate that the former President is urging the former finance Minister who has been residing in the US since February of this year due to a medical condition concerning his kidney, to promptly return to Ghana to personally confront the allegations, especially those being investigated by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
According to sources, Mr. Akufo-Addo perceives the current allegations as detrimental to the family reputation and to the legacy of his administration. He maintains that his cousin ought to return home to confront the legal challenges and demonstrate his innocence.
Sources within the family indicate that the former President has experienced a profound sense of shock and embarrassment in response to allegations concerning procurement violations, misuse of public office, and breaches of both procurement and criminal statutes, which may involve significant amounts of public funds and questionable state contracts.
In the midst of the ongoing controversy, the former President is advocating for “a safe passage” for Mr. Ofori-Atta as he returns to Ghana from the United States, ensuring that there will be no state action taken to publicly humiliate him through arrest and detention upon his arrival at Kotoka International Airport.
It’s noteworthy that Mr. Ofori-Atta is reportedly in regular communication with his family and close associates, while also managing his private business ventures, which include Enterprise Insurance, Transition Funeral Home, and Databank Financial Services, among others.
Insiders reveal that former President Akufo-Addo is contemplating reaching out to President John Dramani Mahama to request guarantees for the “safe passage” of Mr. Ofori-Atta.
Sources within Jubilee House have informed The Herald that while President Mahama has not been contacted, he strongly believes in allowing the law to run its full course and is thus reluctant to engage in any discussions with the former President concerning his cousin.
The President stands firmly against the request for “safe passage.”
Furthermore, certain officials from the Mahama administration assert that Mr. Ofori-Atta should first provide an account of, and if needed, return any state funds reportedly obtained during his time in office before any conversations regarding his return or potential leniency can take place.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor has claimed that Mr. Ofori-Atta participated in an inappropriate agreement involving Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), leading to the initiation of proceedings against him in absentia.
Recently, an Accra High Court granted bail to five individuals, including an entity, who were arraigned in connection with the alleged Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) scandal.
Emmanuel Kofi Nti, 66, the former Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), along with Isaac Crentsil, 63, a former Commissioner at GRA; Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, also a former Commissioner-General of GRA; and Evans Adusei, the Chief Executive Officer of SML, have all been granted bail set at GH¢50 million, requiring two sureties to be justified.
Justice Francis Aponga Achibonga has mandated the deposit of passports or any international travel documents at the Court Registry. They must also provide weekly reports to the lead investigator at the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
The Court has decided to pause the enforcement of the new bail terms until December 15, 2025, instructing the accused to adhere to their current OSP bail conditions until that time.
The individuals in question are confronted with several allegations, notably Conspiracy to engage in criminal activities aimed at directly or indirectly manipulating the procurement process for their own unfair benefit.
Directly impacting procurement processes and resulting in financial losses for the State. Leveraging public office for personal gain, deliberate oppression, fraudulent certification by a public official, and engaging in agreements that impose financial obligations on the State for multiple years without obtaining prior parliamentary consent. Every individual charged has entered a plea of not guilty.
The case has been postponed to December 17, 2025, when the Court is anticipated to hear the plea of Kwadwo Damoah, the Member of Parliament for Jaman South and former Commissioner of the Customs Division of GRA, who was not present when the matter was addressed.
The lawyer, in attendance, was directed to inform him of the upcoming court date. Three additional individuals facing charges, Kenneth Ofori-Atta, 66, the former Minister of Finance; Ernest Darko Akoree, 67, Chief de Cabinet to Ofori-Atta; and Mr. Damoah, were also not present.
The Special Prosecutor, Mr. Kissi Agyebeng, notified the Court that intelligence suggested Mr. Ofori-Atta and Mr. Akoree were presently in the United States of America, and that the OSP had commenced extradition proceedings against them.
The defense attorneys for the accused made a series of requests for bail, contending that their clients had adhered to all prior OSP bail conditions and had no plans to flee.
The Special Prosecutor outlined that the accused individuals colluded to create and run a criminal enterprise from 2017, aiming to sway the procurement process in favor of SML.
The contracts awarded encompass transaction audit services, external price verification, downstream petroleum measurement audits, upstream petroleum audits, and mineral audit services.
He stated that the arrangement was marked by an absence of true necessity for SML’s services, asserting that the contracts were obtained through “self-serving patronage, sponsorship, and promotion” by Ofori-Atta, Akoree, Nti, Owusu-Amoah, Crentsil, and Damoah, founded on misleading and unverified assertions.
The SP highlighted that the accused individuals ignored essential statutory approvals from Parliament and the Board of the Public Procurement Authority, operating with a sense of “emboldened impunity” as they purportedly misused their public positions for personal gain.
He stated that they did not succeed in implementing robust financial management systems to oversee SML’s operations, leading to considerable financial losses for the State.
It has been reported that payment channels to SML were configured to “automatic mode,” resulting in a disconnection from real performance metrics.
The SP reports that the Republic incurred a loss of approximately One billion, four hundred and thirty-six million, two hundred and forty-nine thousand, eight hundred and twenty-eight point six three Ghana cedi (GH¢1,436,249,828.63) due to the arrangement.
The OSP launched investigations following petitions received in December 2023, with the inquiry spanning from December 20, 2023, to October 3, 2025.
In light of initial findings, the Government took decisive action by suspending SML’s services in January 2024.
On October 31, 2025, a presidential directive was issued that led to the termination of all contracts awarded to SML by the Ministry of Finance and the GRA. The SP noted that the accused individuals had aimed to obligate the State to an additional payment of US$2,799,604,864.71 over a span of five years, all without the essential approval from Parliament.
Previous reports suggested that the procurement processes were skewed to favor SML, involving misleading claims about its exclusive and legitimate capacity and technology.
The contracts were awarded without competitive bidding and did not receive the necessary statutory approval, leading to concerns about potential misuse of public office and violations of procurement regulations.
OSP has accused Ofori-Atta of conspiring to “directly or indirectly influence the procurement process to gain an unfair advantage in securing a procurement contract.” This contravenes the stipulations outlined in the Criminal Offences Act as well as the Public Procurement Act.
He faces a total of 78 charges related to the SML-GRA scandal.
Prosecutors allege that payments exceeding GH¢1 billion were approved for SML, despite a lack of evidence indicating that the company performed any work. The assertion is that the payment structure was automatic and not linked to any quantifiable outcomes.
The OSP has also highlighted other contentious cases currently under scrutiny, such as the cancellation of a contract between the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Beijing Xiao Cheng Technology (BXC) regarding a power network enhancement initiative.
The National Cathedral Project is closely tied to procurement and spending activities. Service Ghana Auto Group Limited has secured a significant contract to procure and maintain 307 ambulances for the National Ambulance Service, operating under the Ministry of Health. The OSP identifies this situation as potentially linked to inflated costs, irregular procurement practices, and improper use or payment from the GRA’s Tax Refund (or “Tax P-Fund”) account.
OSP has labeled Ofori-Atta as “wanted” and a “fugitive from justice” due to his failure to return to the jurisdiction to address the charges against him.
They contend that a straightforward “medical letter” submitted on his behalf fails to provide sufficient justification for bypassing personal attendance.
The OSP subsequently initiated formal charges, encompassing “conspiracy to influence procurement process,” and is advancing through the criminal justice system.
Credit: TheHeraldghana
