Human Rights Court throws out Ofori-Atta’s attempt to revise lawsuit in case against OSP

The Human Rights Court has rejected an application by former Finance Minister Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta that sought permission to amend his writ and compel the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to release further documents.

The ruling was delivered on Tuesday, November 25.

This development forms part of a wider legal dispute in which Mr. Ofori-Atta is contesting his classification as “wanted” and the arrest warrant issued by the OSP.

He filed a civil action against the OSP in March 2025, arguing that the “wanted” notice infringes his rights to lawful administrative procedures, due process and the protection of his public image.

According to the court, the materials Mr. Ofori-Atta requested were “unnecessary.” It therefore dismissed the application and imposed a GHS 5,000 cost on him for what it described as a waste of judicial time.

The court postponed its decision on whether he may amend the original writ to 12 December 2025.

Following the ruling, the OSP posted a statement on Facebook noting that the Human Rights Court had dismissed Mr. Ofori-Atta’s bid to revise his writ and seek discovery. The OSP emphasised that this suit is one of several Mr. Ofori-Atta has filed to challenge his designation as a wanted person and the arrest warrant underpinning it.

The court, the OSP added, considered the requested documents irrelevant and imposed a GHS 5,000 cost on the applicant. A decision on the amendment request is scheduled for 12 December 2025.

Background

The OSP declared Mr. Ofori-Atta a wanted person in February 2025 after he failed to appear for questioning.

His legal team earlier presented a medical note indicating he was receiving treatment outside the country, but the OSP dismissed it as inadequate proof of his medical condition.

Although his name was temporarily taken off the wanted list after he pledged to return to Ghana, the OSP restored his designation when he did not report on the agreed date.

Mr. Ofori-Atta is also challenging an INTERPOL Red Notice issued as part of ongoing corruption-related investigations.