EOCO, NIB join hunt for Ofori-Atta amid corruption allegations

Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta is now facing even more pressure as both the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) have joined the list of agencies investigating him. The Deputy Attorney-General, Justice Srem Sai, revealed this during an interview with JoyNews.

“All I can tell you for now is that EOCO and NIB are also after him,” Mr. Srem Sai stated. He said the investigations are focused on Mr. Ofori-Atta’s time in office as Finance Minister, though he declined to share more details.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) had earlier declared Mr. Ofori-Atta wanted for allegedly using his office for personal gain. The OSP is investigating five key issues linked to his time in office, including:

● Revenue contracts involving Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA)

● The termination of a deal between the Electricity Company of Ghana and BXC Technology

● Spending and procurement related to the National Cathedral project

● The controversial ambulance procurement deal involving the Ministry of Health

● Management of funds under the GRA Tax P-Fund

There is speculation that EOCO’s involvement could suggest possible money laundering offenses.

Mr. Srem Sai stressed that being under investigation does not automatically mean a person is guilty. “The fact that you are being looked for does not mean you have committed a crime,” he said.

He also confirmed that Ghana is working with international partners to deport Mr. Ofori-Atta, who is believed to be outside the country. “We are currently in the process of taking steps to have him extradited to Ghana,” he noted. However, he explained that deportation depends on whether the crimes under investigation are also considered crimes in the country where he is found.

According to him, Ghana is actively working with U.S. authorities and other international agencies to locate Mr. Ofori-Atta. If he is returned, he will be arrested, cautioned, and formally charged, with further legal steps to follow.

With EOCO, NIB, and the OSP now all involved, the legal pressure on the former minister has intensified significantly.