The Human Rights Court has dismissed a request by former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to prevent the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) from re-declaring him a wanted person. The court also imposed a cost of GH¢5,000 against him.

Ofori-Atta had filed a suit in March 2025 against the OSP over its characterisation of him as a fugitive of justice and a wanted individual.

His legal team sought a court order barring the OSP from referring to him as a "wanted person" or "fugitive from justice."

They also challenged the continued display of his picture and name on the OSP’s list of wanted persons across social media, arguing that it violated the principles of administrative justice.

This was despite an earlier assurance from the OSP, in a letter dated February 1, 2025, that the former minister’s name would be removed from the wanted list.

The lawsuit demanded the immediate removal of Ofori-Atta’s name from the list and a court order prohibiting the OSP from reinstating it without judicial approval.

He further sought an interlocutory injunction to stop the OSP from issuing any further press releases or media statements labeling him as a fugitive.

Additionally, he requested a mandatory order compelling the agency to delete all references to him as a wanted person.

Ofori-Atta’s lawyers argued that the OSP’s actions violated his fundamental human rights, including his right to personal liberty, freedom of movement, and administrative justice as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution.

In a statement posted on X, the OSP confirmed the ruling, "The Human Rights Court has dismissed an application by former Finance Minister Kenneth Ofori-Atta, who sought to prevent the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) from declaring him wanted ahead of his scheduled appearance on 2 June 2025.

"The dismissed application forms part of a series of civil suits he has filed against the OSP and the Republic, either to halt its operations or challenge the issuance of arrest warrants in the ongoing probes."

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