Interpol deletes red notice against former finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta

The International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) has permanently removed the Red Notice issued against former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, following a request initiated by Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), according to his legal team.

In a statement released on Friday, February 13, 2026, lead counsel Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo of Minkah-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline & Partners disclosed that the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files (CCF) had formally communicated its decision to Mr Ofori-Atta.

The lawyers explained that the CCF concluded the request for Mr Ofori-Atta’s arrest was “predominantly political in character” and therefore violated INTERPOL’s strict neutrality principles. The ruling was delivered during the Commission’s 135th Session held on February 4, 2026.

According to the legal team, the Commission’s decision followed an extensive review of data submitted by the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) in Ghana and found the information to be inconsistent with INTERPOL regulations. Under Article 3 of INTERPOL’s Constitution, the organisation is barred from engaging in matters of a political, military, religious, or racial nature.

Quoting the CCF, the lawyers stated that the Commission determined the data lodged by Ghana were not compliant with INTERPOL’s rules and consequently ordered their deletion from the organisation’s information system.

The removal of the Red Notice marks a major setback to the state’s efforts to extradite Mr Ofori-Atta, who has been under investigation over the management of Ghana’s economy and several high-value financial transactions during his tenure, including matters linked to the country’s ballooning public debt and the subsequent $3 billion IMF bailout.

Mr Ofori-Atta’s lawyers have consistently maintained that the case against him is politically motivated, arguing that he is being unfairly targeted for wider economic challenges influenced by global conditions.

With the Red Notice permanently deleted, the former finance minister is now free to travel internationally, a development that significantly complicates any attempts by the Attorney-General to secure his return to Ghana through international law enforcement cooperation.