The criminal trial of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta is set to resume on Thursday, August 27, 2026, after the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) Act, 2017 (Act 959).
The ruling clears a major legal hurdle that had stalled proceedings in corruption cases being pursued by the OSP since April.
The anti-corruption agency announced the resumption date on Monday, August 10, saying the development paves the way for proceedings in cases that had been put on hold following an earlier High Court decision questioning aspects of the OSP’s prosecutorial powers.
Ofori-Atta is facing 28 counts of corruption and corruption-related offences linked to the OSP’s investigation into revenue assurance contracts between Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
The former Finance Minister was initially charged alongside seven other accused persons on 78 counts in November 2025. The charges were later amended, leaving Ofori-Atta to face 28 counts.
Who else is facing charges?
Among those implicated in the case are former GRA Commissioners-General Emmanuel Kofi Nti and Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah; former Customs Commissioners Isaac Crentsil and Kwadwo Damoah; SML Chief Executive Officer Evans Adusei; and Ofori-Atta’s former Chief of Cabinet, Ernest Darko Akore.
The prosecution alleges that the accused were involved in various acts of corruption and corruption-related offences arising from the SML-GRA revenue assurance arrangements.
The case has attracted considerable public interest because of the financial value of the contracts and the alleged involvement of senior public officials and private-sector actors.
Ofori-Atta secures US permanent residency
The case has taken another significant turn following confirmation that Ofori-Atta has secured permanent residency in the United States.
His lawyers announced in June that a US Immigration Court had approved his application for adjustment of status, paving the way for him to obtain a Green Card.
The development has sparked debate in Ghana, particularly as the OSP continues efforts connected to his return to the country to face the criminal proceedings.
The OSP, however, has stressed that the US immigration decision does not amount to a ruling on the corruption allegations against Ofori-Atta.
The anti-corruption agency has explained that it was not a party to the US immigration proceedings and that its involvement in the United States relates to extradition proceedings being pursued through the Attorney-General.
According to the OSP, the extradition documents were not before the US Immigration Court.
The agency has therefore cautioned against interpreting findings in the immigration case as a determination of the credibility of the evidence or allegations forming the basis of the criminal proceedings in Ghana.
Supreme Court ruling clears the way
With the Supreme Court now upholding the constitutional validity of the OSP Act, the focus shifts back to the substantive corruption case.
The proceedings are expected to resume on August 27, when prosecutors and the accused return to court following months of uncertainty over the OSP’s prosecutorial mandate.
For Ofori-Atta, the resumption could mark a crucial stage in the long-running legal battle over the SML-GRA contracts, while the question of his return to Ghana remains closely watched.
The case is expected to remain one of the most closely followed corruption trials in Ghana, given the former Finance Minister’s senior position in government and the financial implications of the allegations.
