A high-profile corruption case involving former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and seven others has been adjourned to May 26, 2026, following new legal developments concerning the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
The case, titled Republic vs Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta & 7 Others, was paused after prosecutors informed the court of ongoing proceedings at both the High Court’s General Jurisdiction Division (GU10) and the Supreme Court of Ghana, which relate to the scope of the OSP’s prosecutorial powers.
According to the prosecution, the OSP has filed a Notice of Appeal along with an application for stay of execution, with a return date set for May 21, 2026. The prosecution subsequently requested the trial be adjourned pending the outcome of that application.
Delivering its ruling, the court noted that in light of the pending appeal and the scheduled return date, it was only fair to postpone proceedings.
“In light of the decision of my learned brother sitting at GU10 and the subsequent Notice of Appeal and Application for Stay of Execution filed by the OSP, and with 21 May 2026 being the return date, it is only fair to adjourn the suit to a date after the return date,” the court stated.
“In the circumstances, it will be fair to adjourn the case to May 26, 2026,” it added.
Lawyers for the accused persons did not oppose the adjournment but urged the court to set a reasonable date to avoid repeated delays in the trial.
Meanwhile, Mr Ofori-Atta and his former Chief of Staff, Ernest Akore, were absent from court, with both reportedly outside the country. Authorities are said to have initiated extradition processes and issued summons in the United States.
The case remains one of several major prosecutions being pursued by the OSP, as legal questions surrounding its authority continue to be tested in Ghana’s courts.
