By Vivian Amoah
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has stated that former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta cannot be tried in absentia until all legal requirements regarding the service of court processes have been fully satisfied.
The clarification follows growing public interest in the ongoing investigations involving the former minister, who is currently outside Ghana. According to the OSP, Ghana’s legal framework requires that an accused person be properly served with the necessary court documents before proceedings can proceed to a trial in absentia.
The office explained that efforts to serve Ofori-Atta with the relevant legal processes are still underway and must be completed before any consideration can be given to conducting proceedings without his physical presence in court.
The OSP stressed its commitment to due process and the rule of law, noting that all actions taken in the case will be guided by the provisions of Ghanaian law. It added that any decision regarding a trial in absentia would ultimately be subject to the court’s determination after all procedural requirements have been met.
Ofori-Atta remains the subject of investigations by the OSP over matters relating to public contracts and the management of state resources. The case has attracted significant public attention due to his role as Finance Minister during a critical period of Ghana’s economic challenges.
The Special Prosecutor’s office has maintained that it will continue to pursue all lawful avenues to ensure accountability while respecting the rights of all parties involved.
The development means that legal proceedings against the former minister cannot proceed in his absence until the process of formally notifying him of the charges and court actions has been completed.
