Claim: Ken Ofori-Atta has returned to Ghana amid Special Prosecutor arrest warrant notice 

Source: Social media (Tiktok and X)

Verdict: Misleading

Researched by Gifty Danso

A video circulating on social media platforms (TikTok and X) in the last week of February 2025 suggested that former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta had returned to the country after being declared a fugitive from justice by the Office of Special Prosecutor (OSP).

The videos were posted with captions suggesting that he was back to defend himself from corruption cases the OSP was investigation. “BREAK: An unconfirmed report making rounds online suggests that daddy Ken Ofori Atta aka The Fugitive has landed in Ghana. Ahombrasi3 360 until he is cleared,” a post on X read. 

Another posted on TikTok was captioned: “Breaking! Ken Ofori Atta reportedly lands Ghana and he’s ready to face the OSP.”

The X post gained traction with 261.1k views, 275 shares, and 2.8k likes at the time of filing this report, while the post on TikTok had also attracted 3348 comments. 

This fact-check will verify the authenticity of the claim.

Fact-Check

Using the keyframes function of InVID Verification Tools and Google Reverse Image Search, GhanaFact discovered that the video in question first appeared online on November 30, 2023.

The research shows that the video was captured when Mr. Ofori-Atta attended the Ghana Capital Markets Conference (GhaCMaC) organised by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to mark its 25th anniversary on the Ghana Capital Market (find here, here, and here). 

The event, culminated in the unveiling of a 5-year strategic plan, which was launched by Mr. Ofori-Atta. This indicates that the videos being shared now are from that particular event. 

A keyframe of the image (as captured below) shows a 2023 date on a roll-up banner. The then Director General of SEC, Dr Ogbarmey Tetteh, is captured in the viral video welcoming Ken Ofori-Atta to the event. Both Ofori-Atta and Ogbamey’s attires in the viral video are the same per our analysis of the video of the event shared on SEC’s YouTube channel. 

A screenshot from the video showing 2023 date on a roll-up banner at the ESC event

Is Ken Ofori-Atta back in Ghana?

On February 19, 2025, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin announced in Parliament that Mr. Ofori-Atta will return to Ghana in May 2025, citing a letter from Ofori-Atta’s lawyers.   

“We acknowledge receipt of your letter dated February 17, 2025, we respectfully indicate that our client, who is much due for his return, cannot be any time before six to eight weeks of his possible surgical intervention as stated in the hospital’s letter.

“Our clients hold that taking into account surgical dates from March 20 to 21, and his recuperation period he should be able to be back into the jurisdiction between May 14 and 30, 2025. We hope you take note of this date and same can guide your office in fixing a day for the in-person of our client to your office,” the letter from the former Finance Minister’s lawyers read by the Minority Leader said. 

GhanaFact contacted Mr. Ofori-Atta’s lawyers about the viral video claiming their client was back in Ghana but has yet to receive a comment.  

In a recent development, the former Finance Minister is reported in local media outlets as saying he was dismayed at the OSP’s designation of Wanted Person slapped on him. That designation has since been lifted by the OSP.

Verdict 

Therefore, the videos circulating that Ken Ofori-Atta is back in the country are misleading.