The Accra High Court has granted the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) an additional four weeks to serve former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and his former Chief of Cabinet, Ernest Darko Akore, with court summons in the United States. This decision was made on September 29, 2026, at a court sitting. The OSP had requested more time to allow for the completion of formal processes with the US Department of Justice.
A team from the OSP had traveled to the US to engage with the Department of Justice regarding the summons process but had not returned to Ghana as of the September 29 hearing. The court has adjourned the matter to October 29, 2026, giving the OSP until then to complete its efforts to serve Ofori-Atta and Akore. The case involves 28 counts of alleged corruption linked to Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited and the Ghana Revenue Authority.
Ofori-Atta and seven other accused persons face charges of corruption and related offences arising from revenue assurance arrangements between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). The OSP alleges these arrangements caused financial losses exceeding GH¢1.4 billion. Ofori-Atta alone faces 28 counts in the proceedings.
The other accused persons named in the case are former GRA Commissioners-General Emmanuel Kofi Nti and Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, former Customs Division Commissioners Isaac Crentsil and Kwadwo Damoah, SML Chief Executive Officer Evans Adusei, Akore, and SML as a corporate entity. Those who have already been served and appeared before the court have all pleaded not guilty.
This is not the first delay in the case. At a previous court sitting on August 27, 2026, the court had already granted the prosecution time to serve Ofori-Atta and Akore in the United States, with the case then scheduled for September 29. The OSP has described Ofori-Atta as a fugitive from justice, and a High Court arrest warrant remains in force.
Ghana is seeking Ofori-Atta's return through extradition proceedings while the criminal case remains ongoing. The OSP had earlier responded to a US immigration court transcript concerning Ofori-Atta, stating that extradition documents were not before the US court and that Ghanaian courts have authority to assess the charges.
The OSP's efforts to serve Ofori-Atta and Akore with court summons in the US are ongoing, with the office now having until October 29, 2026, to complete these efforts. The case has garnered significant attention in Ghana, with many following developments closely.
Key points
- The Accra High Court has granted the OSP four weeks to serve Ken Ofori-Atta and Ernest Darko Akore with court summons in the US.
- The case involves alleged corruption linked to Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited and the Ghana Revenue Authority, with losses exceeding GH¢1.4 billion.
- Ofori-Atta and seven others face charges of corruption and related offences.
