The Herald, has gathered that former President Nana Akufo-Addo is deeply distressed by the growing controversy surrounding his cousin and former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, over matters arising from his nearly 8-year tenure at the Finance Ministry.
The ex-President is demanding a special passage when the man once regarded as a financial wizard arrives at Kotoka International Airport to confront his many skeletons.
According to sources, the former President wants Mr Ofori-Atta, who has been in the US since February this year, on claims of a medical condition related to his kidney, to immediately return to Ghana to personally address the allegations, particularly those being pursued by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
Insiders say Mr Akufo-Addo believes the ongoing allegations are tarnishing the family name and undermining the legacy of his administration, and insists that his cousin should return home to face the law and prove his innocence.
Family sources further reveal that the former President has been shocked and even embarrassed by reports alleging procurement breaches, abuse of public office, and violations of procurement and criminal laws, potentially involving substantial sums of public funds and irregular state contracts.
Despite the controversy, the former President is seeking “a safe passage” for Mr Ofori-Atta upon his return to Ghana from the United States, with no state action to publicly humiliate him by arresting and detaining him upon arrival at Kotoka International Airport.
Interestingly, The Herald understands that Mr Ofori-Atta remains in frequent contact with family and close associates and continues to oversee his private business interests, including Enterprise Insurance, Transition Funeral Home, and Databank Financial Services, among others.
Sources close to the matter indicate that former President Akufo-Addo is considering approaching President John Dramani Mahama to seek assurances of the “safe passage” for Mr Ofori-Atta.
However, Jubilee House insiders tell The Herald that although President Mahama has not yet been approached, he firmly believes the law must be allowed to take its full course and is therefore unwilling to enter into any arrangement with the former President regarding his cousin.
The President is opposed to granting the “safe passage” sought.
Additionally, some officials within the Mahama administration also hold the position that Mr Ofori-Atta must first account for, and, where necessary, refund, any state funds allegedly acquired during his tenure before any discussions can be entertained about his return or the possibility of leniency.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor has alleged that Mr Ofori-Atta was involved in an improper agreement between Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and has consequently initiated proceedings against him in absentia.
Last week, five persons, including an entity, who were arraigned over the alleged Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) scandal, were granted bail by an Accra High Court.
The accused, Emmanuel Kofi Nti, 66, former Commissioner-General, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA); Isaac Crentsil, 63, former Commissioner at GRA; Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, former Commissioner-General of GRA; and Evans Adusei, Chief Executive Officer of SML, were each granted bail in the sum of GH¢50 million with two sureties to be justified.
Justice Francis Aponga Achibonga ordered that they deposit their passports or any international travel documents at the Court Registry. They are also required to report to the lead investigator at the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) weekly.
However, the Court suspended enforcement of the new bail terms until December 15, 2025, and directed the accused to remain on their existing OSP bail conditions until that date.
The accused persons face multiple charges, including Conspiracy to commit criminal offences of directly or indirectly influencing the procurement process to obtain an unfair advantage.
Directly influencing procurement processes and causing financial loss to the State. Using public office for profit, Willful oppression, false certificate by a public officer, and entering into an agreement with financial commitments binding the State for more than one financial year without prior parliamentary approval. All accused persons pleaded not guilty.
The case was adjourned to December 17, 2025, when the Court is expected to take the plea of Kwadwo Damoah, Member of Parliament for Jaman South and former Commissioner of the Customs Division of GRA, who was absent when the matter was called.
His lawyer, who was present, was instructed to notify him of the next court date. Three other accused persons, Kenneth Ofori-Atta, 66, former Minister of Finance; Ernest Darko Akoree, 67, Chief de Cabinet to Ofori-Atta; and Mr Damoah, were also absent.
The Special Prosecutor, Mr Kissi Agyebeng, informed the Court that intelligence indicated that Mr Ofori-Atta and Mr Akoree were currently in the United States of America and that the OSP had initiated extradition proceedings against them.
Defence counsel for the accused persons took turns to request bail, arguing that their clients had complied with all previous OSP bail conditions and had no intention of absconding.
The facts presented by the Special Prosecutor were that the accused persons conspired to establish and operate a criminal enterprise from 2017 to influence the procurement process in favour of SML.
This was in the award of contracts for transaction audit services, external price verification, downstream petroleum measurement audit, upstream petroleum audit and mineral audit services.
He said the arrangement was characterised by a lack of genuine need for SML’s services, and that the contracts were secured through “self-serving patronage, sponsorship and promotion” by Ofori-Atta, Akoree, Nti, Owusu-Amoah, Crentsil and Damoah, based on false and unverified claims.
The SP noted that the accused persons disregarded mandatory statutory approvals by Parliament and the Board of the Public Procurement Authority, acting with “emboldened impunity” as they allegedly abused their public offices for private benefit.
He said they also failed to establish effective financial management systems to monitor SML’s work, resulting in significant financial losses to the State.
Payment channels to SML were allegedly set to “automatic mode” and disconnected from actual performance.
According to the SP, the Republic lost about One billion, four hundred and thirty-six million, two hundred and forty-nine thousand, eight hundred and twenty-eight point six three Ghana cedi (GH¢1,436,249,828.63) through the arrangement.
Investigations by the OSP were triggered by petitions received in December 2023 and were conducted between December 20, 2023, and October 3, 2025.
Following preliminary findings, the Government suspended SML’s services in January 2024.
A presidential directive issued on October 31, 2025, subsequently terminated all contracts awarded to SML by the Ministry of Finance and the GRA. The accused persons, the SP added, had also intended to commit the State to a further payment of US$2,799,604,864.71 over five years without the mandatory authorisation of Parliament.
Earlier reports alleged that procurement processes were manipulated to give SML an unfair advantage, including false representations that it had exclusive and legitimate capacity/technology.
The contracts were single-source (no competitive bidding) and lacked statutory approval, raising questions of abuse of public office and breach of procurement laws.
OSP has charged Ofori-Atta with conspiracy to “directly or indirectly influence the procurement process to obtain an unfair advantage in the award of a procurement contract.” This violates provisions of the Criminal Offences Act and the Public Procurement Act.
The case against him includes 78 counts insofar as the SML-GRA scandal is concerned.
Prosecutors say that payments totalling over GH¢1 billion (by some accounts) were authorised to SML without evidence that the company did any work. The claim is that the payment arrangement was automatic and not tied to any measurable deliverables.
The OSP also listed additional controversial cases under investigation, including the termination of a contract between the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Beijing Xiao Cheng Technology (BXC) for a power network improvement project.
Procurement and spending are linked to the National Cathedral Project. A large contract was awarded to Service Ghana Auto Group Limited to purchase and maintain 307 ambulances for the National Ambulance Service under the Ministry of Health. The OSP flags this as potentially involving inflated costs, irregular procurement procedures, and improper utilisation/payment from the GRA’s Tax Refund (or “Tax P-Fund”) account.
OSP declared Ofori-Atta “wanted” and a “fugitive from justice” after he failed to return to the jurisdiction to respond to charges.
They argue that a simple “medical letter” submitted on his behalf did not constitute valid grounds to avoid personal attendance.
The OSP later filed formal charges, including “conspiracy to influence procurement process”, and is proceeding under the criminal justice system.
