Enayat Qasimi, an international legal practitioner and lead counsel for former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, has described the ongoing GRA–SML case as politically motivated, stressing that his client is not seeking to evade justice.
In an interview with the BBC, Qasimi argued that investigative bodies, particularly the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), were fully aware that Mr Ofori-Atta was abroad receiving medical treatment and therefore had no basis to trigger a Red Notice against him.
He maintained that the former finance minister remains willing to cooperate with Ghana’s legal processes and has no intention of avoiding accountability.
According to Qasimi, the key concern is whether Mr Ofori-Atta’s constitutional rights are being respected. He contended that these rights have not been upheld throughout the investigation.
Qasimi further claimed that the OSP was informed of Mr Ofori-Atta’s location and medical condition at the time the Red Notice was issued, questioning the necessity of the move.
Mr Ofori-Atta is facing 78 counts of corruption alongside seven others in connection with the Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) revenue assurance contract with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). The charges include alleged breaches of Section 23(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and Section 92(2)(b) of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663).
Meanwhile, the Minister for Justice and Attorney General, Dr Dominic Ayine, announced on December 18 that his office has formally submitted an extradition request to the United States for Mr Ofori-Atta and an alleged accomplice, Ernest Akore, as investigations continue.
