The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) has permanently removed the Red Notice issued against former Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta, following a ruling by its Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files (CCF).
The announcement came from Ofori-Atta’s legal team, led by Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo Esq. of Minkah-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline & Partners. In a statement released on Friday, February 13, 2026, the lawyers confirmed that the CCF, during its 135th session held on February 4, 2026, ordered the deletion of the Red Notice from INTERPOL’s files.
The CCF determined that the notice, originally requested by Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), violated INTERPOL’s rules. Specifically, it found the notice to be “of a predominantly political character” and non-compliant with the organization’s statutes, which prohibit actions primarily motivated by political considerations.
The permanent deletion means Ofori-Atta’s details are no longer part of INTERPOL’s alert system, effectively lifting any associated international alerts for provisional arrest or extradition based on the OSP’s request. This development grants him greater freedom for international travel and marks a significant setback for efforts to pursue him through global law enforcement channels on the related allegations.
The Red Notice was initially issued on June 5, 2025, after the OSP declared Ofori-Atta a fugitive in connection with probes into alleged corruption, including claims of using public office for personal gain. Ofori-Atta and his lawyers have consistently maintained that the pursuit was politically motivated and lacked proper legal grounding.
Earlier stages of the process saw temporary suspensions and removals from public view in late 2025 amid ongoing reviews, with the OSP at times disputing claims of full withdrawal. However, the February 2026 CCF decision represents a final and permanent resolution in favor of deletion.
Ofori-Atta, who has been in the United States since early 2025 for medical reasons, faced separate immigration detention by U.S. authorities in January 2026 over visa status concerns, unrelated to the INTERPOL matter. His legal team has emphasized cooperation in resolving those issues.
Neither the OSP nor INTERPOL has issued an immediate public comment on the latest development as of this report. The removal underscores ongoing debates in Ghana over the independence of anti-corruption bodies and the boundaries between political and criminal matters.
This story is developing, and further details from official sources are awaited.