Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta Granted Two Weeks to Challenge OSP's Arrest Warrant

• Ken Ofori-Atta has been granted a two-week extension to challenge an arrest warrant issued by the Office of the Special Prosecutor
• Justice Ruby Aryeetey granted the extension despite objections from the OSP, allowing Ofori-Atta’s lawyers to file necessary legal processes
• His legal team argued that unique circumstances delayed their initial appeal following the OSP’s ex parte warrant issued on February 12, 2025

Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been granted a two-week grace period to challenge the arrest warrant issued against him by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

Justice Ruby Aryeetey, the presiding judge, granted the order for an extension of time, as requested by the lawyers of the former finance minister, despite opposition from the OSP.

This ruling now allows Ken Ofori-Atta's lawyers to file the required processes seeking to challenge the OSP's arrest warrant within two weeks

On February 12, 2025, the OSP obtained an ex parte arrest warrant for Ken Ofori-Atta. However, the window to file an appeal expired, prompting the OSP to request an extension of time.

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On Tuesday, August 26, 2025, Ken Ofori-Atta’s legal team, led by Frank Asamoah, argued that the extension request was justified due to the unique circumstances behind the delay.

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The arguments made by Ofori-Atta's lawyers

According to a report by Starrfmonline, Mr Asamoah referenced Section 4(2) of the Courts Act, 2002 (Act 620), and Section 117(1), which define a judgment to include any decree, order, or decision.

Mr Asamoah argued that the arrest warrant issued by the Circuit Court qualifies as an appealable order under Section 326 of Act 30.

While arguing the case before Justice Ruby Aryeetey, Ken Ofori-Atta’s lawyer relied on the precedent set in Republic v Circuit Court B, Accra, Ex-parte Madam Rebecca Komeley Adams.

He maintained that the OSP's claim that the application constitutes an abuse of the court process is inaccurate, as the applicant has offered valid reasons for the delay in filing the appeal.

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According to him, the arrest warrant was issued under the court’s criminal jurisdiction, while the appeal itself pertains to a civil matter.

He urged the court to grant the application in the interest of justice to allow Mr Ofori-Atta to pursue his constitutional right of appeal.

Additionally, he noted that the court should assess the merits of the appeal only after granting leave, not at the preliminary stage, citing GCB Limited v Chris Trading Store in support of this point.

Closing his argument, Mr Asamoah stated that the application was properly before the court and insisted that the OSP’s objections lacked merit.

Ken Ofori-Atta's family accuses OSP

Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh reported earlier that Ken Ofori-Atta's family of the alleged that the Office of the Special Prosecutor had been pursuing an agenda against the former appointee of Nana Akufo-Addo.

They stated that they had formally petitioned both the National Central Bureau and the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files (CCF) to have the Red Notice immediately removed.

Additionally, the family claimed that the warrant issued for Ofori-Atta on February 11 had been obtained under unusual circumstances and lacked a supporting affidavit.

Source: YEN.com.gh