Former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta
Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has filed a lawsuit against two senior police officers, DSP Bismark Boakye Ansah and Chief Inspector Mensah, following an alleged raid on his Labone home without permission.
The case, submitted to the High Court of Justice, includes several demands by Mr. Ofori-Atta for compensation, citing a breach of his privacy and property.
On February 11, 2025, a team of 12 individuals—including the two defendants, nine military personnel, and several plainclothes officers—allegedly entered Mr. Ofori-Atta’s property without a warrant or prior notice.
According to the former minister, the raid damaged his reputation and caused significant distress to his domestic workers while he was abroad for medical treatment.
The lawsuit’s main demands are as follows:
Declaration of Trespass and Breach of Privacy: Ofori-Atta seeks a formal declaration from the court that the defendants’ entry into his property and the subsequent search were unlawful, constituting trespass and a breach of his right to privacy.
Damages for Trespass: The plaintiff is demanding compensation for the alleged trespass, arguing that the defendants’ actions were unauthorized and invasive.
Aggravated Damages for Breach of Privacy: Ofori-Atta seeks aggravated damages for the violation of his privacy, particularly due to the filming of private spaces within his home during the raid. He claims the incident caused him significant emotional distress and public embarrassment.
Perpetual Injunction: The former minister requests a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their agents, or assigns from entering his property or engaging in any further conduct that breaches his privacy. This would prevent similar incidents in the future.
Costs: Ofori-Atta also seeks to recover the legal costs associated with pursuing the case.
According to the statement of claim, Ofori-Atta was out of the country for medical treatment at the time of the incident. His domestic staff reported that a team of 12 individuals, including the two defendants, nine armed military personnel, and several plainclothes officers, entered the property without prior notice or consent.
The operatives allegedly searched various areas of the premises, including bedrooms, the kitchen, and closets.
The plaintiff asserts that the raid not only constituted trespassing but also violated his right to privacy. He further claims that one of the officers recorded the entire operation on a mobile phone, exacerbating the privacy violation.
The suit states that the raiding team “did not produce any form of warrant nor indicate to the Plaintiff’s domestic staff the basis for the search but warned the domestic staff to desist from using their mobile phones throughout the entire period of the unauthorized operation.”
Mr. Ofori-Atta’s domestic staff were reportedly traumatized by the incident, suffering from severe shock and anxiety.
“Plaintiff says further that the raid on the property, which gained notoriety both domestically and internationally, has not only exposed him to public ridicule, resentment, and scorn but also portrayed him as a criminal, negatively impacting his hard-earned reputation in the international community,” portions of the document read.
DSP Bismark Boakye Ansah and Chief Inspector Mensah, the defendants, have been ordered to appear within eight days of receiving the writ.
KA
Meanwhile, watch this Ghana Month special edition of People and Places as we hear the story of how the head of Kwame Nkrumah’s bronze statue was returned after 43 years, below:
