“Where Is Ken Ofori-Atta?” – Majority Presses Afenyo-Markin as Former Finance Minister Remains Abroad
Tempers flared in Parliament on Friday when Majority MPs demanded answers from Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin over the prolonged absence of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, who is expected to return to Ghana to answer questions from the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) on alleged corruption-linked contracts.
The heated exchange began when NDC MP for Banda and Minister for Local Government, Ahmed Ibrahim, reminded the House that Afenyo-Markin had previously assured Parliament that Mr Ofori-Atta would return “by February 18.”
“Where is the former Finance Minister?” Ibrahim asked pointedly. “Ministers of Finance who have occupied that office, after their tenure, remain in this country. Where is he?”
In response, Afenyo-Markin maintained that he had not misled the House, explaining that Ken Ofori-Atta had formally written to the OSP (through his lawyers) stating he would return “on or before May” but later underwent scheduled surgery abroad.
“He has been booked for surgery… doctors have advised that the healing period be extended,” Afenyo-Markin said, adding that the former minister had voluntarily disclosed his medical records.
Pleading for empathy, he told MPs: “When it comes to ill health, all of us may go through it one way or the other… Let’s be fair to Ken Ofori-Atta. It can be you tomorrow.”
Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga fired back, rejecting any suggestion that the Majority was insensitive.
“Nobody is happy that anybody is sick,” Ayariga said, “but Ken Ofori-Atta was very sick in this country. You could see the sickness on his face. But at that time, it was sweet to be Finance Minister.”
He continued: “How come that suddenly, because today he is being sought after by law enforcement agencies, he cannot live in this country and is claiming illness?”
The former Finance Minister faces invitations from the OSP to assist in investigations into the controversial GRA–SML revenue assurance deal, the National Cathedral project, and other public expenditure concerns during his tenure.
His continued stay outside Ghana — now several months long — has become a flashpoint between the two sides of the House, with the Majority accusing the Minority of shielding him and the Minority insisting his health must be respected.
No new return date has been confirmed.
