By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent
The International Criminal Police Organization has permanently removed the Red Notice alert issued against Ghana’s former Finance Minister Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta. The decision, communicated on February 13, 2026, follows a review by INTERPOL’s Commission for the Control of Files (CCF) during its 135th Session held on February 4, 2026. The Commission determined that the notice failed to comply with the organization’s strict rules on political neutrality, marking a pivotal shift in the high-profile legal battle between the former minister and Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
Findings on Political Neutrality and Article 3
The CCF determined that the request for Ofori-Atta’s arrest “appears of a predominantly political character” and violated Article 3 of INTERPOL’s Constitution. This article strictly prohibits the organization from undertaking interventions of a political, military, religious, or racial character. According to Ofori-Atta’s lead counsel, Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo, the Commission found that the “challenged data registered by the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) of Ghana were not compliant with INTERPOL’s rules and decided that they should be deleted from the INTERPOL information system.”
The OSP confirmed the receipt of the decision, noting the Commission referenced “polarized political statements from members of current and former administrations” regarding the conduct of investigations. Additionally, the Commission cited “public
controversy surrounding prosecutorial and extradition processes,” including acknowledgments by Ministry of Justice officials that extradition could not be pursued at the time because the case was at an early procedural stage.
The OSP Position on Continued Prosecution
Despite the removal of the international alert, the OSP maintains that the Red Notice has become “unnecessary” because Mr. Ofori-Atta’s location is now known. The former minister was arrested in the United States on January 6, 2026, and extradition processes have already been initiated. The OSP stated that “summons issued by the Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra have been transmitted for service in the United States,” requiring him to appear to answer multiple criminal charges.
The investigations involve alleged procurement and financial irregularities during Ofori-Atta’s tenure from 2017 to 2024. Key areas of focus include the 2023 Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), which affected more than GH¢200 billion in bonds, and revenue mobilization strategies. The OSP emphasized that it “remains guided solely by law and evidence” and is committed to the “fair, lawful, and impartial prosecution of corruption and corruption-related offences.”
Defense Argues Against Political Vendetta
Legal counsel for Mr. Ofori-Atta has long characterized the charges as a “political vendetta designed to scapegoat the former minister for broader global economic headwinds.” They argue that the state’s efforts are a response to the economic downturn that saw inflation exceed 50 percent in late 2022 and public debt rise to over GH¢575 billion.
The defense maintains that the permanent deletion of the Red Notice effectively grants Ofori-Atta “unrestricted international travel.” They contend this complicates attempts by the Attorney-General to secure his physical presence in Ghana through international cooperation, as the highest international policing body has flagged the data as non-compliant. Ofori-Atta has “consistently denied wrongdoing in earlier public statements” and maintains that his actions were necessary for fiscal consolidation.
Extradition and the Legal Path Ahead
Under Ghana’s Extradition Act, 1960 (Act 22), the deletion of an INTERPOL notice does not terminate legal proceedings. Extradition remains a separate judicial and diplomatic process. It requires a “judicial review in the requested state, after which executive approval may be necessary before surrender.” While the OSP continues to seek Ofori-Atta’s appearance through “established legal and diplomatic channels,” the INTERPOL
ruling adds a significant hurdle to the narrative of the case in the United States. The OSP insists that “extradition and court processes may continue independently of INTERPOL alerts once a suspect’s location is established,” setting the stage for a protracted legal battle in U.S. courts.
