The Director of Legal Affairs of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Lawyer Edudzi Tamakloe, says the case involving former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has gone beyond an immigration matter following the filing of an extradition request by the Government of Ghana.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen, Mr Tamakloe explained that during recent court proceedings in the United States, a judge requested a copy of Ghana’s extradition request, a development he said significantly changes the nature of the case.
According to him, once an extradition process is placed before a court, the matter can no longer be treated as a mere immigration issue but becomes a legal process connected to criminal proceedings.
Mr Tamakloe recalled that from the outset, Mr Ofori-Atta’s lawyers informed the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) that he was in the United States for medical reasons and provided a timeline for his return.
However, he noted that subsequent reports indicating that the former minister had applied to adjust his immigration status raised questions about good faith.
He dismissed claims of bias against the prosecution, stressing that such allegations cannot be based on speculation, particularly as the prosecutor handling the case was appointed during Mr Ofori-Atta’s tenure as Finance Minister.
“It’s important to note that the prosecutor handling his case was appointed while Ken served as finance minister. During yesterday’s proceedings, the judge acknowledged that the Government of Ghana had submitted an extradition request.
“He insisted on reviewing a copy of this request, which significantly alters the situation. It is no longer solely an immigration issue. If you refer to the 1992 Constitution, it states that an accused person must be tried in their presence,” he added.
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