Interpol Remove Ofori-Atta From Its Red Alert Notice
Interpol has removed former Ghanaian Finance Minister Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori Atta from its public Red Notice database.
Graphic Online verified on November 19, 2025, that the wanted notice is no longer accessible on Interpol’s official website. This action follows a direct application by Ken Ofori-Atta himself, who formally requested Interpol to delete his name from the wanted persons list.
The OSP’s Role and the Ongoing Interpol Process
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), which originally applied for the Red Notice in October 2025, is actively contesting the removal. The Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files is currently overseeing this case.
In an official statement, the OSP clarified that the Commission notified Ghanaian authorities on November 7, 2025, that Mr. Ofori-Atta had submitted additional arguments for his removal. The Commission has subsequently requested a formal response from Ghana by November 21, 2025. The OSP emphasizes that these proceedings remain pending and a final determination is still underway. During such interim periods, Interpol policy often redacts the subject’s name and details from public view.
Background: The Initial Red Notice and Legal Challenges
Interpol originally issued the Red Notice on June 5, 2025, after the OSP applied for it, labeling the former minister a wanted man for allegedly using public office for profit. Shortly after, on June 9, 2025, Mr. Ofori-Atta’s family petitioned the Commission for the Control of Files to remove the alert.
This Commission holds the authority to review and delete data that fails to comply with Interpol’s strict rules. These rules mandate that Red Notices must stem from valid legal proceedings and be supported by an arrest warrant or court decision. Furthermore, Interpol’s Constitution explicitly prohibits the organization from engaging in matters of a political, military, religious, or racial character.
Parallel Criminal Charges in Ghana
While the Interpol review continues, significant legal actions are progressing within Ghana. On November 18, 2025, the Office of the Special Prosecutor filed a total of 78 criminal charges against Mr. Ofori-Atta and seven other individuals. These charges relate specifically to the Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) procurement case and allege irregular processes in awarding contracts for downstream petroleum revenue assurance.
This case is one of five separate matters under OSP investigation, which also include the procurement of 307 ambulances, the $58 million National Cathedral project, contract terminations in the electricity sector, and the management of the GRA Tax P-Fund.
Clarifying the Current Status and Public Guidance
In a public notice issued on November 19, 2025, the Office of the Special Prosecutor strongly advised the public to disregard any reports claiming the Interpol matter is concluded. The OSP labeled such publications as misinformation borne of mischief.
They confirmed that the removal of the notice from the public database is a procedural step during the ongoing review and does not reflect a final outcome. With the notice’s temporary removal, Mr. Ofori-Atta no longer faces the immediate risk of provisional arrest across Interpol’s 196 member states. However, he still must confront the 78 separate criminal charges filed against him in Ghanaian courts
