Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has clarified that former Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta and businessman Ernest Darko Akore were never placed on any security stop list, contrary to public speculation surrounding their departures from Ghana. Speaking on TV3’s Keypoints program on Saturday, November 29, Manasseh emphasized that his earlier publication was based on verified information gathered from multiple security sources rather than opinion or speculation.
The journalist stated that the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) never issued a stop list request to prevent either Ofori Atta or Akore, both accused in the Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) scandal, from leaving or reentering the country. According to Manasseh, information sourced from the Ghana Immigration Service, National Security, the National Intelligence Bureau and the OSP itself confirms that no stop list request was filed in the previous administration, and none has been filed under the current administration.
Manasseh explained that his concerns began after watching an interview with veteran broadcaster Kwaku Sintim Misa, during which Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng suggested that although the OSP had shown readiness to act in certain corruption related cases, other state institutions were allegedly resisting. This prompted the journalist to conduct his own checks within the security services to verify the claims.
The award winning journalist said he contacted officials to verify whether Ofori Atta had been prevented from travelling during the investigation into the SML case. Security agencies confirmed they watched him leave because he was not on any stop list and they had no lawful grounds to stop him. Further checks revealed that Akore also travelled freely, as security officers confirmed he was likewise not flagged and therefore could not be prevented from travelling.
Manasseh disclosed that he directly asked the OSP whether they had requested assistance from security agencies to restrict these individuals from leaving the country. The Special Prosecutor confirmed they had not made such a request. However, the OSP later referenced an earlier public statement claiming that even if a request had been made, the agencies would not have cooperated during the previous administration. Manasseh challenged this position because it contradicted the facts available to him from security sources.
According to Manasseh’s investigation, Ofori Atta, whose date of birth is November 7, 1959, left Ghana on January 4, 2025, departing from Terminal 3 of Kotoka International Airport on United Airlines Flight 997 to Washington, DC. The former finance minister travelled on a Ghanaian passport containing three valid visas. His United States visa will expire on February 14, 2026, his United Kingdom visa remains valid until April 21, 2032, and his Canadian visa expires on May 31, 2031.
Manasseh also revealed that Akore left the country earlier, on November 19, 2024, on Delta Airlines Flight 156 to New York. He travelled on a ten year United States passport that remains valid until August 4, 2031. The journalist explained that without a stop list directive, border officials cannot legally prevent either individual from entering or exiting the country.
Security agencies rely on official stop list notices before preventing a person of interest from travelling, and such notices are enforceable across airports, land borders and seaports. Ghana Immigration officials have been instructed not to stop travellers unless a formal stop list order exists due to legal liabilities that could arise from wrongful detention or prevention of travel.
Manasseh noted that while Ofori Atta is well known and might be difficult to sneak into Ghana without being spotted and reported to law enforcement agencies, Akore could potentially move through entry points without being flagged since he is less recognizable. The journalist pointed out that without an official stop list request from the OSP, immigration officials have no legal basis to prevent either individual from crossing borders.
The OSP has explained that it relies on airline manifests, which airlines send ahead of flights, so a person of interest can be seen from those lists and arrangements made to stop them even before landing. However, security officials have challenged this explanation, arguing that manifest delays could allow suspects to slip in undetected. They emphasized that formal stop list procedures exist precisely to prevent such gaps in enforcement.