The corruption trial involving former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta is scheduled to continue on Thursday, August 27, 2026, following a unanimous Supreme Court ruling that upheld the constitutional validity of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) Act, 2017 (Act 959).
The OSP announced the date in a Facebook post on Monday, August 10, after the apex court dismissed legal challenges to the law governing the anti-corruption agency.
The Supreme Court’s decision clears the way for the resumption of several cases that had been suspended since April 2026 following a High Court ruling that questioned the OSP’s prosecutorial authority and whether the office required prior approval before commencing criminal proceedings.
Mr Ofori-Atta is currently facing 28 charges involving alleged corruption and corruption-related offences arising from investigations into revenue assurance contracts between Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
The OSP originally brought 78 charges against Mr Ofori-Atta and seven other individuals in November 2025. The charges were subsequently amended, resulting in the former Finance Minister facing 28 counts, while the other accused persons face separate charges related to the same case.
Those standing trial alongside Mr Ofori-Atta include former GRA Commissioners-General Emmanuel Kofi Nti and Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, former Customs Commissioner Isaac Crentsil, former Customs Commissioner Kwadwo Damoah, SML Chief Executive Officer Evans Adusei and Ernest Darko Akore, a former Chief of Cabinet to Mr Ofori-Atta.
The prosecution alleges that the accused were involved in various acts of corruption and related offences arising from the revenue assurance arrangements between SML and the GRA.
Ofori-Atta’s US residency
The former Finance Minister has meanwhile obtained permanent residency in the United States after a US Immigration Court approved his application for adjustment of status.
His legal team disclosed in June 2026 that his application for a Green Card had been approved following immigration proceedings in the US.
The proceedings considered matters relating to his immigration status and actions taken by Ghanaian authorities.
However, the OSP has rejected claims that the US immigration decision has any bearing on the criminal case against Mr Ofori-Atta in Ghana.
The anti-corruption agency explained that it was not a party to the US immigration proceedings and that its involvement in the United States relates specifically to extradition proceedings being pursued through the Attorney-General.
The OSP further clarified that the extradition materials were not before the US Immigration Court during the residency proceedings.
Consequently, it said, any observations or findings made by the immigration court should not be regarded as a ruling on the validity, credibility or otherwise of the criminal allegations pending against Mr Ofori-Atta in Ghana.
The OSP maintains that despite obtaining permanent residency in the US, Mr Ofori-Atta remains a Ghanaian citizen and may still be extradited to Ghana should the US court handling the extradition proceedings grant the request.
The August 27 hearing is therefore expected to mark the resumption of the case after months of uncertainty over the OSP’s legal authority to prosecute.
