The Member of Parliament for Akwatia, Bernard Bediako, has criticised former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, accusing him of leaving the country to evade ongoing legal scrutiny and investigations.
According to the lawmaker, the situation involving Ofori-Atta is unprecedented in Ghana’s political history, stressing that he cannot recall any political appointee who left the country under similar circumstances while facing active investigations and possible prosecution.
Bernard Bediako made the remarks while speaking on Channel One TV on Saturday, June 20, as he joined the growing public debate over Ofori-Atta’s stay in the United States and reports about his immigration status.
“What we are hearing today has never happened before. I don’t recall any political appointee serving for years and then literally running away from the jurisdiction,” he said.
He further alleged that Ghanaians were initially informed that the former minister had travelled abroad for medical reasons, only for reports to later emerge suggesting he was pursuing permanent residency in the United States.
“We were never told that he was going to seek asylum in the US, even as far as getting a Green Card. We were told that he was sick, and people even criticised us when we wanted to question the issue. He ran away under the guise of being sick, and his so-called love for Ghana has vanished as he now seeks refuge in the USA,” he added.
The discussion follows reports that Ofori-Atta’s I-485 petition — a key step toward obtaining lawful permanent residency in the United States — was approved by a US immigration court on Monday, June 15.
During the interview, Bernard Bediako also dismissed comparisons between Ofori-Atta’s case and that of former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre CEO Sedina Attionu-Tamakloe.
He argued that the two cases are different, noting that legal proceedings against Sedina Attionu-Tamakloe had already begun in Ghana before she travelled to the United States for medical treatment.
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