Ofori Atta’s SML trial begins today as court approves US service
The criminal trial of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta resumes today, Thursday, August 27, 2026, before the High Court in Accra.
Mr Ofori-Atta faces 28 counts of corruption related offenses arising from the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s (OSP) investigation into revenue assurance contracts between Strategic Mobilization Ghana Limited (SML) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
The case was called this morning, with the High Court granting the OSP approval to serve Mr Ofori-Atta and his former Chief of Cabinet, Ernest Darko Akore, with summons in the United States.
According to the Office of the Special Prosecutor(OSP), the court documents have been forwarded to the Attorney-General’s Department for service through authorised channels in the United States, as it considers prosecuting them in absentia if they fail to return.
The OSP noted that prosecution in absentia does not automatically follow from charges and that the accused must be properly notified through formal legal channels.
The trial resumes after a unanimous Supreme Court ruling on August 10 which upheld the constitutionality of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959), which had stalled several cases since April
Mr Ofori-Atta was initially charged alongside seven others on 78 counts in November 2025. The Special Prosecutor’s Office later streamlined the charges to 28 counts against the former minister.
Those standing trial alongside him include former Ghana Revenue Authority(GRA) Commissioners; General Emmanuel Kofi Nti and Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, former Customs Commissioners Isaac Crentsil and Kwadwo Damoah, Strategic Mobilisation Chief Executive Officer Evans Adusei, and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana(SML).
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