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The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) has permanently deleted the Red Notice issued against former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
The decision was taken by the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files (CCF) during its 135th session held on February 4, 2026. In a public notice dated February 13, 2026, counsel for Mr. Ofori-Atta, Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo Esq, announced that the Commission concluded the Red Notice appeared to be of a predominantly political character and did not comply with INTERPOL’s regulations.
According to the statement, the CCF determined that the data submitted by Ghana’s National Central Bureau failed to meet INTERPOL’s rules and ordered that the notice be permanently removed from the organisation’s information system.
INTERPOL’s constitution bars the organisation from undertaking interventions or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character. The CCF serves as the independent body responsible for ensuring that data processed through INTERPOL channels comply with its legal framework and for reviewing requests relating to Red Notices and other alerts.
A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition or similar legal action. Although it is not an international arrest warrant, it can carry serious reputational and travel consequences.
Background
Mr. Ofori-Atta served as Ghana’s Finance Minister from 2017 until early 2024 under the administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. He had reportedly been under investigation over matters linked to his tenure in office.
On June 2, 2025, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng announced that he had triggered processes for the issuance of an INTERPOL Red Notice against Mr. Ofori-Atta. The move followed the former minister’s alleged failure to honour multiple invitations from the Office of the Special Prosecutor for questioning in relation to ongoing corruption investigations.
With the deletion of the Red Notice, Mr. Ofori-Atta’s details will no longer appear in INTERPOL’s database, and member countries will not act on the withdrawn alert.
