The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has confirmed that its much-anticipated criminal proceedings against former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and seven other high-profile former officials will officially commence today, Thursday, December 11, 2025, at the Criminal Court 5 in Accra.
The announcement was made in a post on the OSP’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, which stated: “The trial of Kenneth Ofori-Atta and 7 others expected to start today at Criminal Court 5.”
Background to the Case
The trial stems from extensive investigations conducted by the OSP into alleged acts of corruption, corruption-related offences, and significant financial loss to the state involving senior officials of the Ministry of Finance, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), and individuals connected to Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML), a company contracted to provide revenue assurance services to the government.
In late November 2025, the OSP formally filed 78 charges against the group, marking one of the most complex corruption cases in Ghana’s recent history. The charges followed months of forensic audits, witness interviews, and document reviews aimed at unraveling suspected irregularities in revenue collection contracts, procurement procedures, and oversight failures within state institutions.
Accused Persons
Aside from Mr. Ofori-Atta, the individuals facing prosecution include:
Ernest Darko Akore, Former Chef de Cabinet at the Ministry of Finance
Emmanuel Kofi Nti, Former Commissioner-General, Ghana Revenue Authority
Rev. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, Former Commissioner-General, Ghana Revenue Authority
Isaac Crentsil, Former Commissioner, Customs Division of the GRA; also served as General Manager of SML
Kwadwo Damoah, Former Commissioner, Customs Division of the GRA and sitting Member of Parliament for Jaman South
Evans Adusei, Senior official associated with the SML contracts
Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) – Charged as a corporate entity
Trial to Begin Without Ofori-Atta
The OSP has confirmed that Mr. Ofori-Atta will be tried in absentia, as he has not returned from the United States, where he reportedly travelled for medical care. The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, has previously stressed that the absence of accused persons will not hinder the administration of justice, noting that the courts are empowered to proceed when justified.
Earlier Findings and Investigations
At a press briefing on October 30, 2025, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng disclosed that the investigation had uncovered “substantial evidence of financial impropriety” involving collaboration between public officials and private entities. These findings raised public concern about systemic weaknesses in revenue assurance processes and contract oversight at the Ministry of Finance and the GRA.
According to the OSP, some of the accused individuals, including Mr. Ofori-Atta, have cited health-related reasons for their prolonged absence from the country. Nonetheless, the prosecutor emphasized that the office has activated the necessary international legal cooperation mechanisms to facilitate their return and ensure due process is followed.
Next Steps
Today’s court proceedings are expected to set the pace for what analysts describe as a “defining corruption trial” for the Fourth Republic, given the stature of the accused and the scale of alleged financial losses.
The OSP maintains that its priority is to ensure a fair trial, uphold the constitutional rights of all accused persons, and reinforce public confidence in Ghana’s anti-corruption framework.