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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Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, June 20, during a discussion on reports that Ofori-Atta had secured a United States Green Card, Mr Bentil said his concerns were not about the legal case against the former minister but rather the hostile atmosphere surrounding him.

“If I were Ken, I wouldn’t come to Ghana, not because I’m afraid of the charges. I have said on this table that the charges are not serious. It is being reported that the US court is saying the same thing.”

He explained that he had expressed similar views more than a year ago, arguing that due process had not been followed in the handling of the case.

“I said it about a year ago, 78 charges for whatever. And I said, if I’m Ken, not because I’m afraid. As far as I am concerned, Ken Ofori-Atta, if he were here, would be in danger of being assaulted even by ordinary citizens because he has been so demonised,” he stated.

Despite his concerns, Mr Bentil said he would prefer Ofori-Atta to return to Ghana and respond to the allegations against him.

“I wish he would come and face the charges and face them down,” he said.

“So people should take things in context. My worry is that, because of the emotions surrounding this matter, we are not being methodical about it. And that’s why we are where we are.”

The IMANI Vice President also revisited his earlier criticism of the handling of the case, insisting that the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) sought an Interpol Red Notice before formally charging the former Finance Minister.

“From the beginning, it was on this table that I revealed he had not even been charged, yet Interpol Red Notices had been issued against him,” he said.

“And I said it would not go anywhere. What have we seen? It did not go anywhere. They were withdrawn, and they apologised to him.”

According to him, his position was based on legal principles rather than support for Ofori-Atta.

“I said it here long before that, when you haven’t charged a person, how do you issue an Interpol Red Notice? People said, ‘You are defending Ken.’ I said, ‘No.’ The point is that it is not proper procedure.”

Mr Bentil argued that a prosecutorial body should follow due process before seeking an international notice against a suspect.

“When you have a prosecutorial body, which is a serious institution, issuing an Interpol Red Notice — an international wanted notice — against somebody it has not charged, that’s the point I made a year ago. And I’m saying Interpol itself has come to the conclusion that I was right.”

He maintained that there is a correct legal process that should be followed regardless of public opinion.

“There’s a right way to do something and a wrong way to do it. And when we say these things, people think, ‘Oh, you are defending Ken.’ No. I’m saying there’s a right way and there’s a wrong way.”

Mr Bentil further stated that Ofori-Atta did not flee from the authorities but travelled abroad for medical treatment while maintaining communication through his legal team.

“Let’s never forget the fact that Ken Ofori-Atta did not run away from the OSP. He went abroad for medical treatment. And when they contacted him, he was communicating with them. His lawyers were communicating with them.”

According to Mr Bentil, the former Finance Minister’s decision not to return to Ghana was influenced by the atmosphere that had developed around the case.

“It is a decision he made not to return because of the atmosphere that was created. And that also has been reported,” he said.

“When you have all these things going on, it poisons the environment. The law actually says that you have a right not to return to that kind of environment. It is not only the prosecuting and arresting institutions that can create such circumstances.”

Ofori-Atta’s reported Green Card status signals US does not fully agree…

The engagements also focused on strengthening cooperation between both countries in tackling fraud, corruption, money laundering, and transnational organised crime, including cyber-enabled financial offences.

At the centre of the talks are:

Ken Ofori-Atta extradition case

The extradition discussions involving Ken Ofori-Atta centre on his legal status and ongoing corruption-related investigations in Ghana. The government has formally submitted an extradition request seeking his return to face 78 corruption and procurement-related charges.

According to officials, the case has been complicated by developments in the United States, where he was previously detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over his immigration status. His legal team has indicated that a U.S. immigration court subsequently granted him lawful permanent residency, reportedly after finding aspects of the Ghanaian state’s charges politically motivated.

However, Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and the Attorney-General have rejected interpretations that the U.S. immigration ruling shields him from prosecution. They maintain that immigration decisions are separate from criminal extradition proceedings under existing treaties.

Authorities say the ongoing DOJ engagement is aimed at processing the formal extradition package and ensuring he is returned to Ghana to face trial in Accra.

Frederick Kumi (Abu Trica) extradition case

Frederick Kumi, widely known as Abu Trica, is also at the centre of extradition proceedings following his arrest in Ghana. He is accused by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio of orchestrating an $8 million romance fraud and wire laundering scheme targeting elderly victims in the United States.

He is facing multiple federal charges, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.

In Ghana, a lower court in Gbese has already granted approval for his extradition to the United States. However, his legal team, supported by activists, has filed a certiorari application at the Accra High Court seeking to overturn the ruling.

They argue that his constitutional rights are being violated and have raised concerns about identity verification procedures used during investigations and prosecution.

The case has triggered widespread public debate, with civil rights advocates questioning the consistency of enforcement actions. They argue that Ghana shouldn’t “rush” to hand over an ordinary citizen to the U.S. while wealthy political figures like Ofori-Atta remain abroad.

Broader Ghana–U.S. law enforcement cooperation

Beyond the two extradition cases, the meetings between EOCO and the U.S. Department of Justice also underscored a broader strategic shift in Ghana’s approach to international crime fighting.

Under Raymond Archer’s leadership, EOCO is prioritising global partnerships to trace illicit financial flows, recover stolen assets, and strengthen prosecution of cross-border criminal networks.

The operational framework discussed with the U.S. DOJ focuses on three key areas: cyber-fraud crackdowns, cryptocurrency-related crime enforcement, and asset recovery and forfeiture.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr Nukpenu questioned the outcome of the extradition process and argued that state institutions owed the public an explanation, particularly because taxpayer funds had been used in pursuing the matter.

“The OSP and Attorney General must come and explain to Ghanaians how it happened that the extradition didn’t go through,” he said.

According to him, public officials involved in the process had embarked on a course of action aimed at securing accountability on behalf of the Ghanaian people and should therefore account for the outcome.

“They went on a road to secure a certain conviction for the people of Ghana. It was taxpayers’ money that was used. You are being paid by the taxpayer, you are using the taxpayer’s money to go on that road,” he stated.

Mr Nukpenu said many Ghanaians had expected Mr Ofori-Atta to return and answer questions relating to his tenure as Finance Minister, particularly over issues that generated public concern.

“I am not happy because the people of Ghana know that Ken Ofori-Atta didn’t deal with them well; the business community, the collapse of banks and a lot of issues,” he said.

He questioned whether authorities had fully assessed their legal options before pursuing extradition efforts, especially if alternative legal mechanisms were available.

“If we know a trial in absentia will be possible, why would we go on that road and waste taxpayers’ money? We have to weigh the options and not waste everybody’s time,” he argued.

The NDC organiser further maintained that the fight against corruption was one of the key issues that influenced voter decisions during the 2024 general election.

“The 2024 election was based on simple things. The corruption in the NPP Akufo-Addo government was terrible, so we need someone who would make sure we recover our money and the people serve sentences,” he said.

He cited concerns over corruption, illegal mining, deteriorating roads and environmental degradation as issues that featured prominently in public discourse ahead of the election.

According to him, the current administration risks disappointing voters if it fails to demonstrate a clear commitment to addressing those concerns.

“If we have now come and we don’t let people see the difference, but we treat it like robbing Peter to pay Paul, then the wrath that will come upon us, we can bear it,” he warned.

Mr Nukpenu stressed that the interests of ordinary Ghanaians must remain paramount in governance and political decision-making.

“In political activism, the interest of the people is supreme,” he said.

He added that delivering on promises to tackle corruption would be critical to maintaining public confidence in government.

“Because what will convince me to go back and tell people that we have delivered on our promise? I pray and hope that we’re able to deal with corruption issues so that we clear our way in that area,” he stated.

His comments come amid public debate over the legal status of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta following reports that a U.S. immigration court granted his application for permanent residency, a development that has raised fresh questions about ongoing efforts by Ghanaian authorities to pursue legal action against him.

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A green card answers one question: whether a person has the right to reside permanently in the United States. Extradition answers another: whether the United States should surrender that person to a foreign country to face criminal proceedings or punishment.

Those questions may arise from the same facts, and the evidence in one case may echo powerfully in the other. But they travel along separate legal tracks, before different decision-makers, under different laws.

The reported immigration ruling therefore does not prevent Ghana from continuing to seek Mr Ofori-Atta’s return. It does not annul the criminal charges filed in Ghana. It does not amount to an acquittal, and it does not confer immunity from extradition. A green card is permission to live in America; it is not diplomatic protection from the reach of an extradition treaty.

That distinction should be the starting point of any serious public discussion.

What the immigration judge decided — and what the judge did not decide

Ordinarily, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services adjudicates applications for permanent residence. Where an applicant has been placed in removal proceedings, however, an immigration judge may in many circumstances determine an application for adjustment of status as relief from removal.

If the reports are accurate, Mr Ofori-Atta’s lawyers persuaded the immigration court that he satisfied the legal requirements for permanent residence and that the adverse matters placed before the court did not justify refusing that relief.

That is significant. It suggests that the Ghanaian accusations, his immigration history and whatever information the American authorities possessed were not sufficient to defeat his application under immigration law.

But the decision should not be overstated.

An immigration judge deciding adjustment of status is not conducting the Ghanaian criminal trial. The judge is not required to decide whether every allegation made by the Office of the Special Prosecutor is true. Nor is that judge empowered to approve or reject Ghana’s extradition request.

Without the written ruling, it is also impossible to know precisely what findings were made. The court may simply have concluded that no statutory ground of inadmissibility was established and that Mr Ofori-Atta merited a favourable exercise of discretion. That would be materially different from a formal finding that Ghana’s prosecution is politically motivated or that he faces persecution if returned.

Asylum is probably no longer the central issue

The green-card ruling also changes the importance of any possible asylum claim.

If Mr Ofori-Atta has now become a lawful permanent resident through a family-based, employment-based or other independent route, asylum would ordinarily become unnecessary as a practical form of immigration relief. He would already possess the permanent legal status that an asylum claim is generally intended eventually to secure.

That does not establish that an asylum application was formally withdrawn. Indeed, the public record does not conclusively establish that one was ever filed. Evidence concerning political persecution may have been presented for several reasons: to support asylum, to rebut allegations against him, to seek withholding of removal or protection against torture, or simply to persuade the immigration judge that the Ghanaian proceedings should carry limited discretionary weight.

The careful conclusion is therefore that asylum is likely no longer the operative route by which he remains in the United States. His green card now supplies that legal foundation. But the evidence assembled around alleged persecution may survive and reappear in another forum.

That forum is extradition.

Why persecution, health and prison conditions may still matter

An extradition judge’s task is comparatively narrow. Under United States law, the judge considers whether there is a valid treaty basis, whether the offences are extraditable, whether the person before the court is the person sought and whether the evidence is sufficient to establish probable cause.

The hearing is not a trial on guilt or innocence. Nor is it generally the stage at which every humanitarian objection is finally resolved.

If the court certifies that the legal requirements for extradition have been met, the matter moves to the United States Secretary of State. It is the Secretary—not the extradition judge—who possesses the ultimate statutory authority to order or decline surrender.

That executive stage may become the centre of Mr Ofori-Atta’s defence.

His lawyers may argue that the prosecution is politically selective; that official declarations and media campaigns prejudged his guilt; that irregularities in the Interpol process undermine confidence in Ghana’s request; that his health would be endangered by surrender; or that Ghana cannot guarantee appropriate medical treatment and humane detention conditions.

None of those arguments automatically defeats extradition. Foreign politicians cannot convert ordinary corruption prosecutions into persecution merely by describing them as politically motivated. The law distinguishes genuine prosecution from prosecution used as a pretext to punish political opinion.

But the distinction is intensely factual. The timing of the charges, the language used by public officials, the consistency of Ghana’s procedures, the evidential quality of the case and the treatment of comparable accused persons may all be scrutinised.

His health may also become more consequential at the surrender stage than it was at the initial extradition hearing. A general assertion of illness would carry limited weight. Detailed medical evidence showing that surrender, detention or interruption of treatment would expose him to serious harm would be harder to dismiss.

Ghana’s prison system may therefore become part of the diplomatic and legal argument. Published human-rights assessments have described Ghanaian detention conditions as harsh in some facilities because of overcrowding, inadequate sanitation and deficiencies in medical care. Such reports do not prove that Mr Ofori-Atta would personally be mistreated. But his lawyers may rely on them to demand specific assurances regarding his place of detention, access to specialists, medication, hospital treatment and protection from degrading conditions.

The Ghana Prison Service and the government may consequently have a role extending beyond transportation and custody. They may need to provide credible, detailed and enforceable assurances about how he would be housed and treated. Vague promises would be less persuasive than a concrete medical and custodial plan.

Ghana’s burden is legal, evidential and diplomatic

Ghana must do more than announce that it wants Mr Ofori-Atta back.

It must present a properly constituted request through the accepted diplomatic channels. It must identify the treaty foundation, provide authenticated charging documents and warrants, demonstrate that the alleged conduct constitutes an extraditable offence and present evidence capable of satisfying the American probable-cause standard.

The principle of dual criminality will matter: the conduct alleged must generally be criminal in both jurisdictions, although the offences need not bear identical names.

Ghana must also be precise. Broad political rhetoric, press conferences and public declarations cannot substitute for witness statements, financial records, contractual documents, payment trails and evidence connecting the accused personally to the alleged wrongdoing.

An extradition case is often won or lost in the quality of the requesting state’s papers long before the parties enter a courtroom.

After any judicial certification, Ghana must still prevail at the political and diplomatic stage. The Secretary of State may consider foreign-policy interests, humanitarian matters and risks relating to treatment after surrender. That is where Ghana’s commitment to due process will become as important as the gravity of its allegations.

The larger cost of delay

This case is no longer only about one former minister. It is becoming a test of Ghana’s ability to use international legal cooperation effectively.

Until Mr Ofori-Atta’s matter is resolved, future Ghanaian extradition requests—particularly those involving politically exposed persons—may attract closer scrutiny. That does not mean the United States will formally freeze every other request or refuse to extradite anyone else to Ghana. There is no automatic rule requiring that outcome.

But institutions learn from difficult cases. A requesting state whose papers are incomplete, whose public officials prejudge cases, or whose assurances about detention and fair trial appear uncertain may find that subsequent requests are examined more cautiously and more slowly.

Conversely, if Ghana presents a disciplined evidential record, respects the presumption of innocence, refrains from inflammatory commentary and gives credible custodial and medical assurances, this case could strengthen rather than weaken its future cooperation with foreign partners.

The danger is that the political desire for a dramatic return may overwhelm the patient legal work required to secure one.

Ghana can still try him — but should proceed carefully

Ghana may also consider whether to continue the criminal proceedings in his absence. Article 19(3) of the Constitution permits a trial to proceed where an accused person has been duly notified and refuses to appear.

That is not a licence to substitute newspaper headlines for legal service. The prosecution would need credible evidence that he was formally notified of the charges, the court and the hearing dates and that his absence was a deliberate refusal rather than a failure of proper notice.

A conviction obtained through an irregular absentia process could complicate, rather than assist, extradition. American authorities would be entitled to ask whether he had a meaningful opportunity to defend himself and whether he would be able to challenge or reopen the proceedings upon return.

Ghana must therefore decide whether an absentia trial would advance justice or merely create another procedural dispute for Mr Ofori-Atta’s American lawyers to exploit.

What should the public now expect?

The public should not expect the green-card decision to bring the extradition effort to an immediate end. Nor should it expect Mr Ofori-Atta to be placed on a flight to Accra merely because Ghana has submitted a request.

If a formal federal extradition case has already commenced, the initial judicial phase could proceed relatively quickly where Ghana’s documentation is complete. But a determined defence may pursue habeas-corpus review, appellate proceedings and extensive representations to the Secretary of State.

The litigation could therefore last months or years.

The green card improves Mr Ofori-Atta’s position, but chiefly by removing immigration vulnerability. He is no longer fighting merely to avoid deportation for lack of status. He can now defend any extradition request from the firmer ground of lawful permanent residence, supported by family ties, medical evidence and whatever political-persecution material his lawyers have assembled.

That ground is firmer. It is not impregnable.

The decisive legal truth remains simple: permanent residence and extradition are separate. The former allows him to live in the United States. The latter may still require him to leave it.

Ghana’s success will depend not on political insistence, but on evidential discipline, procedural fairness and the credibility of the assurances it gives about what will happen after he lands.

Amanda Akuorkor Clinton, the writer, is a private legal practitioner and Head of Chambers of Clinton Consultancy law firm.

According to him, even if Ghana succeeds in establishing a legal basis for extradition through the courts, American authorities retain discretionary powers that could ultimately affect whether or when Mr Ofori-Atta is returned to face proceedings in Ghana.

Speaking in an interview on Joy FM’s Top Story on Tuesday, June 16, Mr Kpebu explained that extradition cases in the United States involve both judicial and political considerations.

“His health could be a key factor in the eventual decision to extradite him or not,” he stated.

“In American law, even when the judge is done, there are still huge political elements where the Secretary of State has a lot of discretion to use humanitarian grounds, bad prison conditions and many other factors to decide whether or not to extradite a person,” he added.

Mr Kpebu explained that this means issues relating to Ofori-Atta’s health could potentially be raised even after judicial proceedings have concluded.

He argued that if evidence is presented showing that the former minister’s medical condition makes travel or extradition difficult, U.S. authorities could decide to delay any transfer or consider alternative arrangements.

“It means that if it can be shown, even after the extradition proceedings, that his health does not permit, they could delay matters while looking at his health condition,” he said.

However, the legal practitioner stressed that any such claims would have to withstand public scrutiny and demands for transparency.

He cautioned against accepting medical explanations at face value and called for independent verification where necessary.

“It is not just that somebody will come up with a document and say Ofori-Atta is not well. We will be asking for more accountability and transparency,” he stated.

Mr Kpebu referenced earlier public discussions surrounding Ofori-Atta’s medical condition, arguing that Ghanaians are now paying closer attention to developments surrounding the former Finance Minister.

He also suggested that public sentiment could influence how the matter is viewed both in Ghana and abroad.

According to him, citizens are increasingly interested in ensuring that legal processes are applied fairly and consistently, particularly in high-profile cases involving public officials.

The comments come amid ongoing debate over the implications of reports that a U.S. immigration court has granted Ofori-Atta permanent residency status.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor has also maintained that immigration proceedings in the United States are separate from investigations and potential criminal processes being pursued in Ghana.

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According to Mr Kpebu, the granting of a green card provides Mr Ofori-Atta with greater legal protections than he previously enjoyed and could make efforts to secure his return more challenging.

Speaking in an interview on Joy FM’s Top Story on Tuesday, June 16, he described any potential extradition process as likely to be lengthy and complex, particularly in light of the former minister’s immigration status.

“It [extradition] will be a lengthy and very complex legal battle. Except that Akufo-Addo and the NPP stepped in and said we want Ofori-Atta to come down to face accountability, because that would help increase their electoral fortunes.

“Yes, so that would be the way to avoid this complex process… And that is already becoming evident, because with a green card, he now has far more protection than he had previously,” he explained.

Mr Kepbu noted that extradition proceedings in the United States involve more than court determinations and can be influenced by a range of legal, political and humanitarian considerations.

The lawyer noted that even where a court finds grounds for extradition, American authorities still retain significant discretion in deciding whether a person should be surrendered to another country.

According to him, factors such as health conditions, humanitarian concerns and broader policy considerations can influence the outcome of extradition requests.

Mr Kpebu further pointed to Ofori-Atta’s legal representation and connections within the United States as factors that could complicate any future proceedings.

He observed that the former Finance Minister has had access to experienced legal counsel familiar with both the American legal system and the political processes that may accompany extradition cases.

The legal practitioner stressed that these realities mean Ghana should not expect a straightforward process if authorities decide to pursue Ofori-Atta’s return through formal extradition channels.

His comments come amid ongoing discussions over reports that a United States immigration court has granted Mr Ofori-Atta permanent residency status.

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This was confirmed in a statement signed by his lawyer, Justice Kusi Minkah-Premo, dated June 16, 2028.

The statement noted that the decision followed proceedings in which the court examined evidence relating to actions taken by Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), including its earlier declaration of Mr Ofori-Atta as a fugitive from justice while he was reportedly receiving medical treatment in the United States and maintaining communication through his legal representatives in Ghana.

The legal team said the court ultimately found that the allegations and criminal charges being pursued in Ghana did not meet the threshold of credibility within the context of the immigration proceedings.

However, they clarified that the ruling was strictly limited to U.S. immigration law and should not be interpreted as a determination on the merits of any criminal case in Ghana.

“The court’s decision was made within the framework of United States immigration proceedings and was focused solely on whether Mr Ofori-Atta satisfied the legal requirements for adjustment of status,” the lawyers noted.

The statement emphasized that the judgment relates only to his immigration petition and does not constitute a final ruling on any ongoing investigations or legal processes in Ghana.

Read the full statement below:

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Speaking to Adom News, Mr. Quarshie revealed that nearly a month after submitting a petition to the NPP’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, he is yet to receive any formal response from the party’s national leadership.

The petition, which accuses Mr. Ofori-Atta of conduct that has brought the party into public disrepute through his continued failure to avail himself for accountability processes, was intended to prompt the party to address what Mr. Quarshie describes as a growing threat to the NPP’s reputation.

According to him, the silence from the party leadership is disappointing and raises concerns about the seriousness with which the current leadership is treating matters of accountability.

“I submitted the petition because I believe the party must stand for its principles at all times,” Mr. Quarshie told Adom News. “Almost a month later, there has been no response. That is worrying because accountability has always been one of the core values of the NPP.”

Mr. Quarshie stressed that his concerns are not about declaring Mr. Ofori-Atta guilty of any wrongdoing but rather about the obligation of former public officials to cooperate with accountability processes.

“The issue is not about guilt or innocence. It is about accountability. Every public officer must be prepared to answer questions about their stewardship when called upon to do so,” he stated.

In his petition, Mr. Quarshie cites Article 4(7)(g) of the NPP Constitution, which defines misconduct as conduct that brings the party’s name into disrepute, public ridicule, contempt, or disrespect.

He argues that Mr. Ofori-Atta’s prolonged absence has created a public perception that he is unwilling to face scrutiny, thereby exposing the NPP to criticism and damaging the party’s image.

“The longer this situation persists, the more people begin to question what is happening. Whether those perceptions are fair or not, the party is suffering reputational damage,” he said.

Mr. Quarshie also expressed concern about what he describes as a lack of urgency on the part of the party’s current national leadership. In his view, the leadership has so far failed to rise to the occasion and demonstrate the commitment required to protect the party’s values and public standing.

“I believe the current national leadership has not lived up to the task in dealing with this matter. The NPP has always projected itself as a party that believes in accountability and the rule of law. Leadership must be prepared to defend those principles, even when it is uncomfortable,” he argued.

The former MCE maintained that accountability has been a defining characteristic of the NPP under previous administrations. He referenced former President John Agyekum Kufuor’s warnings against a culture of impunity and former President Nana Akufo-Addo’s call on former appointees to make themselves available for any accountability processes after leaving office.

For Mr. Quarshie, the issue goes beyond Ken Ofori-Atta. He believes the party is being tested on whether it will uphold its own standards or allow a precedent to develop that could undermine public confidence in the future.

“If we ignore this today, we risk creating a dangerous precedent where public officials believe they can avoid accountability without consequences. That is not the tradition of the NPP, and it is not the message we should send to Ghanaians,” he said.

He is therefore urging the party leadership to respond to the petition and take the necessary steps to reaffirm the NPP’s commitment to accountability, transparency, and responsible leadership.

As the petition remains unanswered, the debate over accountability and party discipline continues to generate discussion among party members and political observers, with many watching to see how the NPP leadership will respond to one of its own members’ call for action.

Source: Kodwo Mensah Aboroampa

Understandably, strong emotions emerged around those who occupied leadership positions during this painful period, particularly former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.

However, any honest reflection on Ghana’s economic crisis must also acknowledge that these difficulties did not emerge in isolation, nor were they unique to Ghana alone.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war triggered one of the most severe global economic disruptions in modern history. Whether critics agree or not, this remains a fact. Both advanced and developing economies suffered enormously.

The United States experienced inflation levels not seen in decades; the United Kingdom faced severe cost-of-living pressures and political instability; Germany and other European economies struggled with energy shocks linked to disruptions in Russian gas supplies; while China itself suffered major slowdowns arising from lockdowns, weakened trade activity, and global supply-chain disruptions.

Governments across the world borrowed heavily simply to keep businesses alive, support households, stabilize banking systems, and prevent economic collapse.

For Ghana, a smaller import-dependent economy with longstanding structural vulnerabilities, weaker fiscal buffers, and high exposure to external financing, the effects were naturally even more severe.

This does not mean mistakes were not made, nor does it eliminate the need for accountability regarding policy decisions and economic management. However, it does challenge simplistic narratives that attempt to reduce one of the most turbulent global economic periods in recent history into the actions of a single individual.

Ghana’s economic pain was shaped not only by domestic decisions, but also by structural weaknesses within the economy and extraordinary global shocks that affected nations across the world.

Yet as the national conversation has evolved, an important question now confronts Ghana: are we still engaged in a sober discussion about accountability and economic management, or has the debate gradually transformed into something far more political, emotional, and media-driven?

Increasingly, public discourse surrounding Ken Ofori-Atta appears to extend beyond economics or law. It has become a broader national contest involving public anger, media amplification, competing historical narratives, and, in some instances, geopolitical speculation.

More shockingly, some of these narratives are being driven by personalities regarded as learned and influential, making the situation appear less like a search for accountability and more like a personal or politically charged pursuit.

Recent commentary reflects this evolution clearly.

Lawyer and media commentator Martin Kpebu, in discussing broader extradition-related matters,

suggested that “the verdict of the Ghanaian people” is that Ken Ofori-Atta must be brought back to

Ghana. The language is powerful because it projects public opinion as though guilt or culpability has already been conclusively established at a national level. Interestingly, this position comes from a lawyer of good standing, a profession ordinarily expected to uphold due process and the presumption of innocence.

Others have moved the discussion beyond accountability into geopolitical interpretation. Oliver Barker-Vormawor recently argued that if American authorities genuinely wished to return Ken Ofori-Atta to Ghana, they could have done so immediately following visa complications.

He speculated instead that the former minister may be serving as a form of geopolitical leverage against the current government, suggesting the matter is no longer merely legal or procedural but politically strategic.

Whether one agrees with these claims or not, they demonstrate something important: the Ken Ofori-Atta issue is increasingly being discussed not only as a legal or economic matter, but as a politically symbolic one onto which wider frustrations and anxieties are being projected.

At this stage, it is becoming increasingly difficult to determine what some of the ongoing attacks against Ken Ofori-Atta truly represent. What appears more evident, however, is that certain narratives are gradually being twisted and amplified in ways that seem deliberately calculated to fuel public dissatisfaction and deepen resentment toward him.

There is also a growing sense that aspects of his leadership, intentions, and even some of the difficult decisions taken during one of the most turbulent global economic periods in recent history are being selectively interpreted or misrepresented by some individuals and even respected civil society voices.

While criticism and accountability remain legitimate and necessary in any democracy, there is a difference between fair scrutiny and the deliberate construction of a singular public villain for a complex national crisis.

History often has a way of revisiting emotionally charged national moments with greater balance and perspective. For that reason, many of the current narratives surrounding Ken Ofori-Atta may ultimately face a far more measured judgment with time than the intensity of today’s public atmosphere suggests.

At the same time, fierce disagreements remain over the true causes of Ghana’s economic collapse and the fairness of assigning responsibility, particularly if Ghana genuinely seeks to prevent a recurrence and better restructure the economy for long-term national benefit.

Policy commentator Franklin Cudjoe recently argued that Ghana’s current economic recovery under the Mahama administration demonstrates that the previous crisis was largely self-inflicted through “waste, mismanagement and plunder.”

In his view, the current government inherited a broken IMF programme and has since restored confidence, stabilised inflation, strengthened the cedi, rebuilt reserves, and repaired the macroeconomy.

Yet responses to his commentary revealed that there is far from unanimous agreement on this interpretation of events.

Critics argued that debt reduction figures were being oversimplified, that DDEP was fundamentally tied to IMF conditionalities rather than merely discretionary political choices, and that global shocks such as COVID-19, tightening international financial conditions, and the Russia-Ukraine war played far greater roles than some narratives now acknowledge.

Others argued that delayed political consensus around IMF engagement and difficult reforms may itself have worsened the eventual pain Ghana experienced.

This disagreement matters because it reveals that Ghana’s economic crisis remains contested terrain intellectually, politically, and historically. There is no universally accepted interpretation of what happened, when the crisis truly began, who bears primary responsibility, or what could realistically have been avoided.

That complexity matters.

Democratic societies must be able to investigate allegations, examine policy failures, and hold public officials accountable. However, accountability in constitutional democracies must remain evidence-based, institutionally grounded, and insulated from emotionally manufactured verdicts. Public anger, no matter how understandable, cannot become a substitute for due process in any shape or form.

This principle becomes even more important when public narratives move from criticism into presumptions of collective guilt.

Some social media commentary increasingly presents Ken Ofori-Atta not merely as a former

finance minister whose policies are under scrutiny, but as the singular embodiment of Ghana’s economic suffering. Such framing risks oversimplifying a crisis that involved global shocks, longstanding structural vulnerabilities, debt pressures accumulated over many years, and difficult policy decisions made under extraordinary circumstances.

None of this means public criticism is invalid. Citizens have every right to question decisions surrounding DDEP, IMF negotiations, debt accumulation, expenditure choices, and economic management during one of the most difficult periods in Ghana’s history. Those debates are legitimate and necessary in any functioning democracy.

But there is an equally important obligation to preserve fairness, proportionality, and institutional integrity within national discourse.

Ken Ofori-Atta did not emerge from obscurity into public office. Long before entering government, he had established a significant professional and financial career, built international networks, and participated in major investment and economic initiatives.

During his time in office, supporters point to achievements such as banking sector stabilisation, efforts to maintain macroeconomic credibility during COVID-19, energy-sector financing interventions, and attempts to sustain investor confidence under extraordinary global pressure.

Critics dispute aspects of these achievements or argue that later failures overshadow them. Both perspectives continue to exist within the national debate.

That is precisely why caution is necessary.

When political transitions occur during periods of economic pain, there is always a temptation to compress complex national crises into simplified morality narratives involving heroes, villains, and symbolic punishment. Yet history often judges such periods more carefully than the emotions of the moment allow.

Ultimately, Ghana’s democracy will not be judged merely by whether powerful individuals are investigated. It will be judged by whether those investigations, discussions, and public narratives remain fair, evidence-based, constitutionally grounded, and free from the pressure of emotionally manufactured verdicts.

In moments of national frustration, democracies are tested not only by their willingness to pursue accountability, but by their ability to preserve fairness while doing so.

Court records indicate that the case has been scheduled for an individual hearing at 1:00 pm before Judge David A. Gardey at the Annandale Immigration Court in Virginia.

The proceeding is expected to be held virtually.

The development comes weeks after Ofori-Atta was released from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody on April 7, following a court order that granted him bail set at $65,000.

His Ghanaian lawyers, Minkah-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline and Partners, confirmed the release at the time, saying he had reunited with his family.

“Mr Ofori-Atta remains fully committed to use due process in defence of his rights as guaranteed under the constitution and laws of the United States,” the legal team said in a statement.

The June hearing is expected to be more substantive than earlier procedural appearances, with the court likely to examine the merits of his immigration case and the arguments surrounding his continued stay in the US.

Ofori-Atta reportedly entered the United States on May 28, 2025, on a visitor’s visa that expired on November 27, 2025.

He remained in the country beyond the authorised period, leading to his arrest by ICE on January 6, 2026, in Washington, D.C.

Authorities in Accra are seeking his return to answer more than 70 criminal charges alongside five others in ongoing corruption-related investigations.

Among the matters reportedly under scrutiny are allegations linked to the Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited contract.

Ofori-Atta’s US-based lawyer, Enayat Qasimi, has argued that his client is seeking a “pathway to residency” in the United States rather than returning to Ghana.

He has also questioned whether the former minister would receive a fair trial if sent back home, describing the legal pursuit against him as politically motivated.

The former minister served under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo from 2017 until early 2024 and was one of the most influential figures in the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.

His time in office included Ghana’s 2023 IMF bailout programme, but also intense criticism over the country’s debt crisis and the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme, which affected many bondholders and pensioners.

The June 15 hearing is therefore expected to be closely watched in both Ghana and the United States, as it may determine whether Ofori-Atta remains in America or moves closer to being returned to face trial at home.

At the latest hearing in the case, Republic vs Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta & 7 Others, prosecutors informed the court that new proceedings had taken place since the last adjournment, particularly at the High Court’s General Jurisdiction Division (GU10) and the Supreme Court of Ghana, relating to the prosecutorial powers of the OSP.

The prosecution invited the court to take judicial notice of these developments and disclosed that the OSP has filed a Notice of Appeal along with an application for stay of execution, with a return date set for May 21, 2026.

In a statement, the OSP noted that the prosecution requested the case be adjourned pending the outcome of the application.

Lawyers representing the accused persons agreed to the request but urged the court to set a reasonable adjournment date to avoid repeated delays.

However, two of the accused, Mr. Ofori-Atta and his former Chief of Staff, Ernest Akore, were absent. Both are said to be outside the jurisdiction, with extradition requests and summons reportedly initiated in the United States.

Delivering its ruling, the court said: “In light of the decision of my learned brother sitting at GU10 and the subsequent Notice of Appeal and Application for Stay of Execution filed by the OSP, and with 21 May 2026 being the return date, it is only fair to adjourn the suit to a date after the return date.”

“In the circumstances, it will be fair to adjourn the case to May 26, 2026,” the court added.

The case remains one of several high-profile prosecutions being pursued by the OSP, as legal questions around its mandate continue to be tested in the courts.

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According to him, such a move would help bring “closure” to the growing legal and public debate surrounding the former minister’s case.

Speaking on Channel One TV, Mr. Kwarteng noted that the matter has extended beyond the courtroom into the public domain, making it important for Ofori-Atta to personally respond to the allegations through the legal system.

“If it was me, I will avail myself and maybe get closure on this matter. Generally, the constitution is very clear that any accused person will be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a competent court of jurisdiction,” he said.

He emphasised that Ghana’s constitutional framework guarantees fairness and due process, stressing that every accused person is entitled to just treatment regardless of public opinion.

Mr. Kwarteng further pointed out that holding public office comes with lasting scrutiny and responsibility, adding that individuals must be prepared to account for their stewardship—especially in cases involving alleged financial losses to the state.

“The fact that there are attacks surrounding your personality for your actions and inactions while you were in public office does not necessarily mean that automatically when you get to Ghana, you will be treated as such.

“At this level, it has more to do with an individual. The PR about how the former government has stolen and misappropriated the public purse has always been there so as soon as you accept the duty to serve in the capacity of a public officer, you will have to, when the time becomes due, avail yourself for questioning and accountability,” he added.

His remarks come after Ofori-Atta’s recent release from the custody of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, at a time when the Government of Ghana is pursuing his extradition.

Ofori-Atta, who served under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is currently facing a series of legal challenges in Ghana, including more than 70 criminal charges linked to alleged financial losses to the state.

The Government of Ghana has initiated formal extradition proceedings in the United States to secure his return for prosecution.

Although he has been released from ICE custody, his legal and immigration matters remain unresolved, with the next steps dependent on decisions by U.S. judicial authorities.

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He is scheduled to reappear in court on April 27 for deportation proceedings, as the matter continues to unfold amid missing paperwork and jurisdictional delays.

The bail grant comes after Ofori-Atta’s legal team successfully argued that without a formal extradition request from Ghana on record, the court could not legally consider him a flight risk.

His release was secured through a private bond company, reportedly for a substantial sum.

At a previous hearing in March 2026, the presiding judge had specifically requested sight of Ghana’s extradition request before determining Ofori-Atta’s bail application.

The judge signalled that such documentation would be critical to assessing whether Ofori-Atta posed a flight risk, a key factor in bail decisions.

However, according to sources familiar with the matter, the US Attorney General has not provided a copy of Ghana’s extradition request to the State Attorney for submission to the court.

The reasons for this delay remain unclear.

A source familiar with the proceedings explained, “In the absence of sighting a copy of the extradition request, he could not be deemed a flight risk.”

Ofori-Atta was arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on January 6, 2026, and held at the Caroline Detention Facility in Virginia.

The presiding judge had previously requested that Ghana’s extradition request be submitted to the court to assess bail conditions.

However, the US Attorney General has yet to transmit the document to the State Attorney handling the case.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Special Prosecutor in Ghana continues to pursue its corruption case against the former finance minister, awaiting his return.

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In a statement issued by Minkah-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline & Partners, the lawyers revealed that Mr. Ofori-Atta has returned home and is reunited with his family.

“On April 7, 2026, Ken Ofori-Atta was released from ICE detention pursuant to a judicial order. He is now home with his family,” the statement read.

The legal team emphasised that Mr. Ofori-Atta remains committed to due process as he continues to defend his rights under U.S. law.

“Mr. Ofori-Atta remains fully committed to using due process to defend his rights as guaranteed under the Constitution and laws of the United States,” the statement added.

His family also expressed gratitude for the support received during his detention, thanking well-wishers for their prayers and encouragement.

Mr Ofori-Atta, who served as Finance Minister from 2017 to early 2024 under the administration of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has been under investigation over decisions taken during his tenure.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor, led by Kissi Agyebeng, in June 2025 initiated processes for an INTERPOL Red Notice following his failure to honour multiple invitations for questioning in relation to the investigations.

The move, announced at a press briefing in Accra on June 2, 2025, was intended to facilitate his possible arrest and extradition.

However, the Red Notice has since been withdrawn, meaning his details no longer appear in INTERPOL’s database and member countries are no longer required to act on the alert.

Speaking at a Presidential Dialogue with Civil Society Organisations held at Jubilee House on Monday, March 30, the President said it would be inappropriate to comment on proceedings taking place outside Ghana’s legal authority.

“I cannot comment on the extradition of our former Finance Minister because it is in a different jurisdiction… we just have to be patient for the law to play out in that jurisdiction. It is not within our jurisdiction, but the American judiciary…” President Mahama said.

His remarks come as Ghana has formally requested the United States to extradite Ofori-Atta over corruption-related allegations tied to his tenure from 2017 to 2024.

Ofori-Atta is currently in the United States, where he was previously detained by federal immigration authorities over visa issues. Reports indicate he is also seeking permanent residency while contesting the extradition request.

Meanwhile, legal proceedings in the United States are ongoing, with a federal judge reportedly requesting detailed documentation to support Ghana’s application. The request underscores the legal and procedural requirements involved in cross-border extradition cases.

The situation highlights the complexities of international legal cooperation, as Ghanaian authorities await the outcome of proceedings within the U.S. judicial system.

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The confirmation of news reports indicating former Finance Minister (2017-2024) Ken Ofori-Atta is seeking permanent residence in the USA is unfortunate as well as disappointing.

Some of us have known Ken since the 1980s – a pleasant and brilliant product of prestigious Achimota School, Columbia University and Yale University School of Management. He founded Databank in Ghana and our paths crossed in Liberia where Databank was opening.

Ken, now 66, is deeply familiar with the legal system in Ghana, and l believe that an honest bible-quoting Christian like him would have the courage of his convictions to face all odds.

From my personal experience in politics, l would agree that politics is an unpredictable path to pursue, yet a necessary avenue to serve public interest.

The position of a Finance Minister is a prestigious one, and any person in that role attracts more eyeballs than probably any other Cabinet minister or public servant. And all those put in that position have not been unaware of the kind of responsibility carried with it.

We have known Dr Kwesi Botchwey, Richard Kwame Peprah, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, Seth Terkper, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam (2024-2025), and NONE of them has sought permanent refuge abroad, and Ken knows this.

So why is Ken Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta seeking to abandon his traditional heritage, his old school mates and the values they inherited, his church fraternity and the teachings that held them together, the colleagues in the party which made him chairman of their Finance Committee, his cousin former President Akufo-Addo who appointed him as Finance Minister and who is still in the country, his many admirers who loved his regular white outfits?

The laws of Ghana, like the values in the villages and in the churches and mosques, have not changed; only the human beings and personalities keep changing positions.

I am not the only one who will be disappointed if Ken sticks to his word, as his US lawyers say: most of those I have mentioned here will also be.

For posterity, and for the history of the Republic of Ghana, this will be a bad precedent! Nothing to be proud of as part of Ghana Heritage! Come home, Ken! This is where you belong!

Mr Ofori-Atta is being held in an ICE detention facility in Virginia after his arrest by US immigration officials in January for overstaying on a visa.

Enayat Qasimi told Semafor his client has a “pathway to residency” that he would pursue.

He claimed there were “serious questions” about the independence of the Ghanaian judiciary and said that Mr Ofori-Atta had been subjected to a “political witch hunt” that meant he was unlikely to receive a fair trial over alleged financial impropriety while in office, from 2017 to 2024.

The office of Ghana’s attorney general declined to comment.

Ghana has issued an extradition request for Ofori-Atta’s return, which US officials told Semafor had been received.

Mr Ofori-Atta is expected to reappear before the Annandale Immigration Court in Virginia on April 27 after the case concerning his immigration status was adjourned.

He first appeared before the court in January during a virtual hearing presided over by Judge David Gardey, which focused on a bond redetermination and an initial review of the case.

Mr Ofori-Atta joined the hearing from the Caroline Detention Centre, appearing in a black shirt, spectacles and a nose mask.

His visitor visa, which was due to expire in February, was later revoked by US authorities. Court documents indicate he had been instructed to leave the United States by November 29 last year, but failed to comply, leaving him without lawful immigration status.

During the hearing, his lawyers successfully requested that the bond hearing and master calendar proceedings be held behind closed doors, citing the sensitive nature of the issues involved. The judge granted the request.

Meanwhile in Ghana, Mr Ofori-Atta and five others face more than 70 criminal charges linked to several corruption investigations, including allegations that the Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) contract caused a financial loss of over GH¢1.4 billion to the state.

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Speaking on an AM show, lawyer Frank Davies criticised the OSP over the now-deleted INTERPOL Red Notice against Mr Ofori-Atta, describing the process as flawed and unfair.

“So yes, they got it wrong this time. They goofed. I think they should be apologetic and tell Ghanaians the truth,” he said.

Mr Davies stressed that due process and the rule of law are not mere slogans but must be reflected in how investigations and prosecutions are conducted.

“My candid advice to them is that the rule of law and due process is not a term of art. It evolves from established practices and processes,” he noted.

He warned against condemning suspects in the court of public opinion before cases are properly tested in court.

“It is not always right to punish people’s reputation when there is no basis for it,” he added.

His comments follow a decision by the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files to permanently delete a Red Notice issued against Mr Ofori-Atta.

In a public notice dated February 13, 2026, counsel for the former minister, Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo, announced that the commission reached the decision during its 135th session held on February 4, 2026.

According to the statement, the commission concluded that the Red Notice “appears of a predominantly political character” and did not comply with INTERPOL rules.

It also found that the data submitted by Ghana’s National Central Bureau failed to meet INTERPOL’s standards and should be removed from its system.

INTERPOL’s constitution bars the organisation from engaging in political, military, religious or racial activities, with the commission tasked to ensure compliance.

Mr Davies said the decision confirms that Mr Ofori-Atta’s name has now been completely removed from INTERPOL’s records.

“This is why due process matters. You cannot destroy someone’s reputation before the facts are properly established,” he said.

The case has attracted national attention due to Mr Ofori-Atta’s prominent role in Ghana’s recent economic management under the New Patriotic Party government.

In response to the development, the OSP has reiterated its commitment to fairness and legality.

In a statement, the office said it remains guided solely by law and evidence and is committed to the fair, lawful and impartial prosecution of corruption and corruption-related offences.

It is important to understand what this means and what it does not mean.

INTERPOL does not determine guilt or innocence. It does not conduct trials. Its role is to facilitate international police cooperation between member countries.

However, INTERPOL operates under strict constitutional rules, including a neutrality provision that prohibits involvement in matters of a political character.

If INTERPOL determines that a request does not comply with this requirement, it may delete the Red Notice. That decision reflects INTERPOL’s internal compliance standards.

It does not cancel any investigation in Ghana. It does not prevent Ghana from pursuing legal action through its own courts.

What it does affect is the international enforcement posture of the case.

Mr. Ofori-Atta is reportedly scheduled for a bond redetermination hearing in the United States in February. In U.S. immigration court, a bond hearing is not about deciding criminal liability.

The judge considers two primary questions: whether the individual poses a danger to the community and whether the individual presents a flight risk.

If the U.S. government argues that extradition is pending or that international enforcement justifies continued detention, it must provide formal documentation. Immigration judges rely on evidence presented in court, not political commentary or media narratives.

If the Red Notice has been removed, the court may look more closely at whether a formal and active extradition request exists and what stage that process has reached. However, removal of a Red Notice does not automatically mean release. Judges also evaluate factors such as family ties, residence history, prior compliance with court appearances, and overall risk assessment.

There is also a broader legal consideration. Under U.S. immigration law, a person may seek asylum if they can demonstrate persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of political opinion. An international finding that a matter carries political character does not establish an asylum claim by itself. Asylum requires substantial independent evidence. However, it illustrates how political context can become legally relevant in immigration proceedings.

For Ghanaian readers, the key point is this: the INTERPOL decision does not resolve the underlying allegations. But it may influence how foreign courts evaluate detention and extradition-related arguments.

Ultimately, the February bond hearing will turn on legal standards and documented evidence, not public debate.

The author is a US-based Ghanaian Immigration Attorney and the Founder and Managing Attorney of JJ Moore & Associates, PLLC, with offices in Tennessee and Georgia, leading a globally distributed team spanning Ghana, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Jamaica, Kenya, and the United States.

The statement follows the recent removal of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta from INTERPOL’s Red Notice list after a decision by the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files (CCF).

In a public notice dated February 13, 2026, counsel for Mr. Ofori-Atta, Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo Esq, announced that the CCF, during its 135th session held on February 4, concluded that the Red Notice appeared to be of a predominantly political character and therefore did not comply with INTERPOL regulations.

The Commission subsequently directed that the notice be permanently deleted from INTERPOL’s database.

Responding to the development, the OSP acknowledged receipt of the CCF’s decision and explained that the ruling was based on INTERPOL’s rules on political neutrality and processing procedures.

According to the OSP, the Commission cited contextual issues surrounding the notice at the time it was issued, including what it described as politically charged public commentary from actors linked to both current and former administrations.

The decision also referenced public debate around prosecution and extradition processes, including remarks suggesting that extradition was not feasible at the early stages of the case.

The Commission further noted that later developments made the Red Notice unnecessary, pointing to the fact that Mr. Ofori-Atta’s location was known, cooperation with authorities in the United States was ongoing, and extradition processes had already been initiated following his arrest in the United States on January 6, 2026.

The OSP also disclosed that a summons from the Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra has been transmitted to the United States for service, requiring Mr. Ofori-Atta to appear in court to answer multiple criminal charges.

The office said efforts to secure his appearance continue through established legal and diplomatic channels.

On June 2, 2025, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng announced that steps had been triggered to secure the notice after Mr. Ofori-Atta allegedly failed to respond to several invitations for questioning in connection with ongoing corruption investigations.

With the Red Notice now withdrawn, Mr. Ofori-Atta’s details have been removed from INTERPOL’s global database, and member countries will no longer act on the alert.

The OSP insists, however, that its investigations and legal processes remain active and will continue in accordance with the law.

Read the full statement below:

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In a public statement dated February 13, 2026, counsel for Mr. Ofori-Atta, Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo Esq, disclosed that the decision was reached during the commission’s 135th session held on February 4, 2026.

According to the statement, the CCF determined that the Red Notice “appears of a predominantly political character” and therefore failed to meet INTERPOL’s standards.

The commission further ruled that the information submitted by the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) in Ghana did not satisfy the organisation’s rules and directed that the data be deleted from INTERPOL’s information system.

INTERPOL’s constitution bars the organisation from engaging in matters that are political, military, religious or racial in nature.

The CCF functions as an independent oversight body, ensuring that information shared through INTERPOL channels complies with these rules and reviewing requests linked to Red Notices and other alerts.

A Red Notice is an international request asking law enforcement agencies to locate and provisionally arrest an individual pending extradition or similar legal action. Although it is not an international arrest warrant, it can carry serious reputational and travel consequences for the individual concerned.

Ken Ofori-Atta served as Ghana’s Finance Minister from 2017 to early 2024 under the administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. He became the subject of investigations related to his period in office, which eventually led to a request for an INTERPOL Red Notice through Ghana’s National Central Bureau.

On June 2, 2025, the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, announced that his office had initiated steps for the issuance of the Red Notice after Mr. Ofori-Atta allegedly failed to honour several invitations for questioning in connection with ongoing corruption investigations.

The decision by the CCF to delete the notice means Mr. Ofori-Atta’s details will no longer appear in INTERPOL’s global database, and member countries will no longer act on the withdrawn alert.

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Read the full statement below:

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr Kodua accused the NDC of politicising Mr Ofori-Atta’s absence instead of pursuing lawful channels.

“I dare the NDC to try Ken Ofori-Atta in absentia if they believe he has committed any crime. The NPP tried Sedina Tamakloe in absentia. So if they cannot get hold of Ken, they should go ahead and try him in absentia if they have evidence and a proper case,” he stated.

He added that public accusations without formal charges amount to little more than propaganda and do not solve the country’s pressing problems.

“They should bring the charges and take him to court. Now they are blaming Ken’s absence for everything,” Mr Kodua said.

The NPP General Secretary further argued that the former Finance Minister has become a convenient political talking point for the NDC. “Ken is now their message. When people complain about water bills, they mention Ken. When you ask about unemployment, they say Ken is not in Ghana,” he noted.

He criticised what he described as an attempt to divert attention from substantive policy debates by personalising national challenges around one individual. “They should try him and stop throwing dust into the eyes of Ghanaians,” he added.

Mr Kodua emphasised that if the NDC truly has evidence, the courts remain the proper forum. “The law provides the path. If there is a case, prosecute it,” he said, highlighting the importance of due process over political rhetoric.

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The adjournment follows a request by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for more time to conclude international processes aimed at serving summons on Mr Ofori-Atta and another accused person, Ernest Darko Akore, both of whom have been declared fugitives from justice.

According to JoyNews’ Legal Affairs Correspondent, Kwaku Asante, the hearing scheduled for Wednesday was expected to be a case management conference, a procedural session during which the court would have issued guidelines and directives on how the trial was to proceed.

However, the conference could not take place because the prosecution had not completed two critical pre-trial requirements.

First, summons are yet to be served on Mr Ofori-Atta and Mr Akore, who are currently outside the country. As a result, service must be effected through the Attorney-General’s Department, a process the OSP said is still ongoing.

Second, the prosecution must file and serve all disclosure documents before the case management conference. While some disclosures have been filed, the OSP told the court that not all had been served on the defence.

At Wednesday’s hearing, the prosecution therefore pleaded for additional time to complete the service of summons and outstanding disclosures to ensure that the case management conference can proceed when the court resumes next month.

The court granted the request and adjourned proceedings to February 26, with the expectation that all procedural issues would be resolved by then.

The trial stems from charges filed by the OSP in November 2025, accusing Mr Ofori-Atta and his co-accused of corruption and corruption-related offences, largely linked to contracts awarded to Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) and related public procurement transactions.

The eight accused persons are Ken Ofori-Atta, Ernest Darko Akore, Emmanuel Kofi Nti, Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, Isaac Crentsil, Kwadwo Damoah, Evans Adusei, and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited.

According to the prosecution, the accused allegedly caused significant financial loss to the state through unlawful payments, procurement breaches, and other infractions connected to government contracts executed between 2018 and 2024.

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Mr Ofori-Atta served as Ghana’s Finance Minister from 2017 to 2024 under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration and has been at the centre of several public controversies relating to alleged financial mismanagement and procurement concerns.

In recent years, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) announced investigations into a number of transactions approved during his tenure, including revenue assurance contracts, aspects of the public debt restructuring programme, and payments made under sole-sourcing arrangements.

His lawyers have previously maintained that he remains willing to cooperate with any lawful investigative process, explaining that his temporary stay outside the country is due to health and security considerations.

Speaking on JOYNEWS’ AM Show, Mr Kwakye Ofosu said all Ghanaians are equal before the law, and institutions that act outside legal bounds can be challenged in court.

“The former finance minister cannot be treated specially. He cannot be treated differently from how everybody else is treated. If any institution engages in conduct that is contrary to law, there’s a recourse. A court can reign in that state institution,” he said.

The Communications Minister noted that agencies such as the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), or the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) do not operate above the law. He added that if anyone believes bail terms or other conditions are unreasonable, they can petition the courts for redress.

Mr Ofori-Atta appeared before a United States court on Tuesday, January 20, following actions taken by U.S. immigration authorities over his legal status.

He was apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on January 6, 2026, at his residence in the Westlight Building, Washington D.C., after his visa was revoked in mid-2025.

During the court hearing, immigration judge David Gardey presided over the case, which was subsequently adjourned to April 27, 2026.

The situation has sparked reactions in Ghana. On the same day, pressure group Arise Ghana staged a protest outside the United States Embassy in Accra, demanding Mr Ofori-Atta’s return to face investigations over alleged financial misconduct.

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Speaking in an interview on Accra-based GHOne TV, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) stalwart dismissed claims that Mr. Ofori-Atta does not intend to return to the country.

“Why would he not return to Ghana? I believe Ken will come to Ghana, and I know he wants to come to Ghana,” he said.

Asked when he last spoke with the former minister, he responded, “Not so long ago.”

Mr. Otchere-Darko also commented on Ofori-Atta’s condition following his detention by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), saying he had not spoken to him since the incident but remained optimistic about his state of mind.

“He is doing well from what I heard because I haven’t spoken to him since his detention, but I am sure he is doing well. He is a strong man mentally, so I am sure that will protect him,” he added.

Meanwhile, Ofori-Atta’s bond hearing on his bail application has been scheduled for February 19.

The case centres on his immigration status in the United States. He appeared before a US immigration court in Virginia on January 20, 2026, after being detained earlier in the month by ICE.

US authorities argue that his visitor visa had been revoked, leaving him without lawful status to remain in the country.

Court documents indicate that the former finance minister is currently being held at the Caroline Detention Center as the legal process continues.

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This follows his detention in the United States, describing the treatment he received as dehumanising and unfitting for of someone of his stature.

Mr Ofori-Atta remains in federal custody in a case that now hinges on extradition evidence and strict legal deadlines, drawing widespread public attention and debate in Ghana.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile, Fuseini said his concern was not about the allegations against Mr. Ofori-Atta but the manner in which he was treated while in custody.

“I have great sympathy for Ken Ofori-Atta. My sympathy for him is simply the fact that a person who has served his country in ways that not everybody out of the 33 million Ghanaians can do and can reach must not be subjected to this level of dehumanisation outside this country,” he said.

Fuseini recounted seeing the former finance minister being escorted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials, handcuffed behind his back, into a vehicle.

“When I saw him with ICE’s officials escorting him into a vehicle with his hands handcuffed behind him, I thought that this person, who has reached the high echelons of governmental authority in this country, should not be treated that way,” he said.

The former MP stressed that his sadness stemmed not from the legal proceedings or the charges levied by the special prosecutor, but from the spectacle of a senior public servant being reduced to a number in the justice system.

“I feel sad for him, not because he is wanted by the Special Prosecutor; I feel sad for him because, as a human being, I don’t think that that spectacle should befall anybody — that a person of his calibre can then be substituted for a number. I feel sad,” Mr. Fuseini added.

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Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Mr. Kusi-Poku argued that some decisions taken by Mr. Ofori-Atta during his tenure had serious consequences, including the loss of Ghanaian lives, and therefore require his physical presence in the country to answer questions.

He said the group has already engaged the United States Embassy as part of efforts to ensure Mr. Ofori-Atta’s return and indicated that additional measures would be deployed if necessary.

Criticising what he described as delays in the investigative process, Mr. Kusi-Poku said the pace should be faster. “If a United States citizen were facing similar issues in Ghana, swift steps would have been taken to return the individual to their country,” he added.

He further stated: “We are conducting the demonstration until Ken arrives in Ghana. Our first course of action is at the U.S. Embassy, and we have other tools we will deploy as needed. Since we began our gathering a week ago, the impact has been significant, and our consultations with the U.S. Embassy are progressing well.

“If you truly served your country with good intentions, why would you deny cooperating if the OSP calls you for an investigation? Ken has questions to answer, and he needs to come to Ghana. His decisions have cost some Ghanaians their lives. The process should not be slow; it needs to move quickly so that Ken can face the law.”

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Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Wednesday, January 21, Frank Davies said the commentary from certain political actors and pressure groups reflects poorly on Ghana’s democracy and respect for due process.

“It’s a sad commentary on the democracy, the rule of law and the due process we all say we cherish in this country. But listening to Hopeson Adorye [Director of Operations for the United Party], we should just delay our tongues,” he said.

Mr Davies criticised statements that label Mr Ofori-Atta a thief, stressing that the former minister has not yet been tried or given a chance to speak in court.

“You make such hurtful, pernicious remarks about someone who has not even said a word in court. Ken has not even been tried. He hasn’t had any say in court.

“So if people like Hopeson Adorye, who is supposed to be a responsible officer in a political party, talk this way, you think Ken doesn’t have reason to be apprehensive because he’s been condemned in the court of public opinion,” he said.

He described such commentary as “prejudicial, unfair, and harmful”, stating that accusations of theft or wrongdoing should not be made before a legal verdict is reached.

Mr Davies further drew attention to what he called selective activism by pressure groups.

Referring to the ongoing picketing by Arise Ghana at the United States Embassy over Mr Ofori-Atta’s absence, he noted that similar energy has not been directed toward individuals who have already been convicted in courts.

“We were all told by Ambassador Smith that there will be an extradition proceeding in respect of [former MASLOC boss] Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu today. Hopeson Adorye and the likes of him, and Arise Ghana, they are not picketing the American Embassy for Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu to be brought.

“Somebody who has been tried in the criminal court, convicted of stealing money that belongs to the state. Hopeson Adorye is not interested in that,” he said.

He described the selective attention as “shameful,” pointing to what he called double standards and disingenuous conduct by some Ghanaians in public discourse.

“This is selectivity, it’s shameful. Double standards, hypocritical conduct,” Mr Davies added.

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Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Wednesday, January 21, Frank Davies dismissed claims that Mr Ofori-Atta was evading accountability, insisting that no one was shielding the former minister from the law.

“Ken Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta is not scared of criminal prosecution. So those who are saying he should come and account, they should rest their voices,” he said.

“When it is appropriate for Ken to come, he will come. Whether by extradition or otherwise, he will come. And when he comes, he will face the full rigor of the law.”

Mr Davies stressed that the former Finance Minister, like any Ghanaian, is entitled to legal representation and due process, describing public calls suggesting otherwise as misplaced.

“Nobody is shielding Ken. Nobody will have that conviction that anyone is shielding Ken. But Ken is supposed to have legal representation, and that is what we have as Ghanaians.

“Nobody can take that legal right from him,” he added, urging critics to “listen to the state and watch the state.”

His comments come amid mounting public pressure from pressure group Arise Ghana, which has been picketing the United States Embassy in Accra to demand the return of the former finance minister to face what the group describes as “justice.”

Mr Ofori-Atta served as Ghana’s Finance Minister from 2017 to 2024 under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration and has been at the centre of several public controversies relating to alleged financial mismanagement and procurement concerns.

In recent years, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) announced investigations into a number of transactions approved during his tenure, including revenue assurance contracts, aspects of the public debt restructuring programme, and payments made under sole-sourcing arrangements.

His lawyers have previously maintained that he remains willing to cooperate with any lawful investigative process, explaining that his temporary stay outside the country is due to health and security considerations.

Meanwhile, Arise Ghana’s lead convener, Bernard Mornah, says the group is prepared to sustain its protest if Mr Ofori-Atta does not return to Ghana.

Speaking to JoyNews at the protest grounds on Tuesday, Mr Mornah said the group had initially notified the Ghana Police Service of its intention to embark on an indefinite picketing exercise.

“Our initial notification to the Ghana Police was for an indefinite protestation and picketing. They requested that we put it into a lot. And so we agreed that the first two weeks would be just to come sit around the United States Embassy,” he said.

He explained that the group would review its strategy after the two-week period, depending on developments surrounding the former minister’s return.

“If the US decides that tomorrow Ken is coming to Ghana, we will terminate our picketing. If Ken is not coming, after two weeks, we will review our operations,” Mr Mornah added.

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Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen, Mr Tamakloe stressed that the rights of an accused person must always be respected, noting that Ghana’s legal system guarantees due process.

“The rights afforded to an accused person should never be undermined. If Ken voluntarily comes to Ghana, his constitutional rights will be respected. The current Attorney General, having passed through the University of Ghana Law School, understands the importance of upholding the law,” he said.

According to him, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has not shown any preconceived intention to persecute Mr Ofori-Atta, adding that investigations could even result in the former minister being treated as a prosecution witness rather than an accused person.

Mr Tamakloe argued that accountability processes are best carried out when the individual involved is present to offer their side of the story.

He also criticised what he described as a breach of good faith, explaining that although Mr Ofori-Atta’s lawyers initially informed the OSP that he was in the United States for medical reasons and would return within a specified timeline, subsequent reports about efforts to adjust his residency status raised concerns.

“We should avoid creating the impression that there is only one inevitable conclusion in a criminal case. It is Ken who has complicated matters for law enforcement by not allowing them to fully consider his side of the story,” he stated.

Mr Tamakloe rejected claims of bias against the OSP, insisting there is no indication that investigators have a predetermined outcome.

“Unless the investigators have a preconceived conclusion, which I do not believe is the case, I don’t think the Office of the Special Prosecutor is out to target Ken Ofori-Atta. It would be inappropriate to claim bias based solely on conjecture. It’s worth noting that the individual prosecuting him was appointed while he served as finance minister,” he added.

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Speaking on Adom TV’s Badwam, Madam Osei Asare highlighted that Ghana recorded strong economic indicators between 2017 and 2020 under Mr. Ofori-Atta’s leadership at the Finance Ministry.

“From 2017 prior to 2020, the numbers were good. Our growth was a minimum of about seven percent, we had single-digit inflation, and our currency compared to other foreign currencies was stable. There was certainty in the business environment until COVID hit us and things didn’t go the way we expected,” she stated.

According to her, the economic difficulties that later confronted Ghana were not unique and must be understood in the context of a worldwide crisis.

“So far, from the time we took over until COVID, we did a very good job,” she said. “He did a very good job as Finance Minister. We went into a global crisis. It was not just Ghana.”

Madam Osei Asare noted that even advanced economies are still struggling to fully recover from the impact of the pandemic.

“As of now, the UK is yet to come back to the economic settings they were in before COVID,” she observed.

She also stated that former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo acted appropriately when he later reshuffled the Finance Ministry.

“So he did his best, and when it was time for former President Akufo-Addo to change him, he did. Dr. Amin Adam also came in to do his part until the NDC took over,” she explained.

Her comments come amid renewed public debate over Mr. Ofori-Atta’s performance following his exit from office, with critics blaming him for Ghana’s recent economic hardships.

However, Abena Osei Asare insisted that history must fairly separate pre-COVID achievements from post-pandemic challenges. She maintained that Mr. Ofori-Atta’s tenure should be remembered for stabilising the economy, improving growth, and providing business confidence before global disruptions altered Ghana’s economic trajectory.

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The court appearance follows his detention on January 8 by officers of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). U.S. authorities argue that Mr. Ofori-Atta no longer holds valid permission to remain in the country after the cancellation of his visitor visa.

The case was heard at the Annandale Immigration Court, where Immigration Judge David Gardey presided over a bond reconsideration and an initial review of the matter.

Court records indicate that the former minister is being held at the Caroline Detention Center while proceedings continue.

Mr. Ofori-Atta was represented by attorneys including Christopher Chaisson of Whiteford Taylor & Preston, alongside his long-time immigration counsel, Kwao Amagashi.

During the hearing, his lawyers requested that both the bond session and the master calendar hearing be closed to the public, citing the sensitive nature of the issues expected to arise.

Judge Gardey approved the request, ordering that the proceedings be held privately and instructing non-parties who had joined via Webex to leave before deliberations resumed.

The outcome of the case will determine whether Mr. Ofori-Atta is allowed to remain in the United States or faces removal, a development that could also have implications for related legal matters in Ghana.

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One-time presidential candidate hopeful, Dr Arthur Kobina Kennedy, says Mr Ofori-Atta must voluntarily return to Ghana to face the alleged corruption and related offences levelled against him by the state, while a former Attorney-General (A-G), Nii Ayikoi Otoo, has insisted that the state should go ahead with a trial in absentia if authorities believe the former minister has issues to answer.

In separate interviews with the Daily Graphic, the two discussed their opinions on the basis of principle, law, and humanity.

Context

Mr Ofori-Atta is currently facing extradition from the US, where he has been in detention since officials of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested him on January 6 this year.

In Ghana, authorities have declared him wanted over charges bordering on alleged corruption and procurement breaches.

Meanwhile, his American visa has been revoked since July, 2025 after Ghana applied for his extradition to face corruption-related charges back home.

Voluntary return

US-based Dr Kennedy stated, “I think he needs to go to Ghana and answer questions.

And my prediction is that he will voluntarily go back to Ghana”.

He said Mr Ofori-Atta’s lawyers should advise him to return to Ghana, where he could be charged and released on bail.

“If he went to Ghana, they would just charge him and release him on bail.

So, I think that he and his lawyers, sooner or later, will come to the conclusion that he’s better off going to Ghana as soon as possible,” he said.

Dr Kennedy said the visa-related issue faced by Mr Ofori-Atta in the US was not going to end now and could leave him in detention for long, stressing that he would, therefore, be better off if he returned to Ghana as soon as possible, since it looked as though he could stay in detention as long as the case remained in litigation.

The former A-G, however, said while the Ghanaian system was still carrying out investigations on Mr Ofori-Atta, there was no need to request his extradition to Ghana to face trial.

He pointed out that it was only after a court in Ghana, based on strong evidence, had succeeded in trying, convicting and sentencing Mr Ofori-Atta in absentia that the A-G could request for his extradition to Ghana for him to serve his sentence.

“I do not know if he has succeeded in getting the American authorities to bring him down; otherwise, where he (Ofori-Atta) stays will not affect his trial,” he said.

Use video link

“In Ghana now, you can give evidence through a video link since we have tried people using video links. So, Mr Ofori-Atta can give his evidence through video link, and if he is properly arrested and convicted, you can now ask that he should be brought down for punishment,” the former A-G said.

Mr Ofori-Atta is due to be heard in a US court today on matters related to his revoked visa and expiration of his stay in the US along with the prospect of extradition.

The former A-G challenged the moral high grounds of some people who were demanding that Mr Ofori-Atta should make himself available in Ghana if he had not done anything wrong.

Such demands, he said, were not in good faith since Mr Ofori-Atta had been suffering from prostate cancer and was undergoing treatment in the US.

“So, it is not like Ofori-Atta has run away from the country and is only living in the US,” he said.    

Nii Otoo recalled that when the Office of the Special Prosecutor asked Mr Ofori-Atta to personally come back to Ghana to answer questions or assist in investigation, he disagreed on the grounds that the OSP “was going about it in the wrong way”.

He cited how former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) boss, Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu, was tried, convicted and sentenced in absentia because she did not make herself available.

“So, what is the big deal when you are doing an investigation and you say that until the suspect appears, you will not continue?

“That is wrong because there is a constitutional provision of protection given to a suspect to refuse to speak, even if he appears before you,” the former A-G said.

He added that: “If I speak and it can be used against me in court, and, therefore, I refuse to speak, which is my right, should you compel me to come and appear before you can go and do you investigation?”

He compared the case of Mr Ofori-Atta with that of former WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, who was indicted but decided to fight against his extradition when he fled to the Ecuadorian embassy in London, and said everybody had the right to fight his extradition.

“There is nothing wrong with Mr Ofori-Atta fighting his extradition to Ghana, as he is only taking his legal rights seriously, and that cannot be taken away from him,” he said.

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Speaking in an interview on JoyNews Today on Monday, January 19, Mr Davies disclosed that the hearing will be conducted virtually.

“Ken Ofori-Atta is happy. Our counterpart lawyers in America are happy. We are all waiting for the hearing tomorrow, which will be virtual,” he said.

He confirmed that Mr Ofori-Atta is currently being held at the Caroline Detention Centre, adding that immigration officials will determine the exact location from which he will join the virtual proceedings.

Mr Davies then clarified that the hearing has nothing to do with any extradition process, stressing that it is purely an immigration matter.

“What is happening tomorrow is a purely immigration matter. It has nothing to do with any extradition process, whether they call it revocation of visa or whatever,” he said.

“Tomorrow is an immigration hearing for an adjustment of his immigration status in America, simply nothing more, nothing less. After tomorrow, we will all know the position.”

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According to Ambassador Smith, the apprehension was conveyed during a phone conversation with Ofori-Atta’s cousin, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko.

“Gabby called me and said Ken wants to come back, but he is afraid of how he will be treated,” he told Accra-based TV3.

Ambassador Smith added that he plans to meet with Ofori-Atta to reassure him that he would be treated according to due legal process, noting that the Attorney-General, Dr. Ayine, has provided such assurances.

The former Finance Minister’s reluctance follows an earlier incident in which representatives from the Ghanaian mission in the U.S. visited to provide consular services, only for Ofori-Atta to reportedly refuse assistance.

Meanwhile, Ofori-Atta remains at the Caroline Detention Facility ahead of his scheduled hearing on Tuesday, January 20.

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Speaking in an interview on JoyNews Today on Monday, January 19, Mr Davies confirmed that Mr Ofori-Atta remains at the same detention facility where he was first held.

“Let me make it abundantly clear that this diplomatic faux pas being displayed by the Foreign Minister and the Ambassador is most unfortunate. Without fear of contradiction, Kenneth Ofori-Atta has not been moved from the Caroline Detention Centre. For an Ambassador to put this in the public space, I don’t know what he intended to achieve,” he stated.

His comments follow claims by Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, that Mr Ofori-Atta had been transferred from the Caroline Detention Facility ahead of his hearing scheduled for Tuesday, January 20.

Mr Davies challenged the Ambassador to disclose the new location if indeed his client had been moved.

“It is just not enough to say he has been moved. He has been moved to where?” he asked.

“And this is the same Ambassador who wanted to extend consular assistance to Ken? I am telling you on authority that Ken remains at the Caroline Detention Centre, where he was, where he has been, and where he will remain until tomorrow,” he insisted.

Mr. Ofori-Atta was detained in the United States in January 2026 following a formal extradition request by the government over issues related to his immigration status.

He is currently being held by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while proceedings continue.

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Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show, Capt. Amoabeng said that although some people expect him to celebrate the former finance minister’s predicament, he would not even contemplate doing so, stressing that he does not wish ill on anyone.

According to him, his long-held position is that institutions must be allowed to function, and where the state believes an individual has committed an offence, the appropriate legal processes should be followed to their logical conclusion.

Capt Amoabeng, who has himself faced criminal prosecution following the collapse of UT Bank, lamented the slow pace of justice in Ghana, describing it as unfair and unacceptable.

He explained that he has been in court for seven to eight years over criminal charges brought by the state, yet the case has made little progress.

“That is not the kind of justice system we want,” he said, adding that prolonged trials punish accused persons without resolution.

He maintained that if the state believes Ken Ofori-Atta committed acts that caused financial loss to the nation, the burden rests on the state to prove those allegations in court.

“Until the state is able to prove that Ken did certain things that cost the nation, then he is not guilty,” Capt Amoabeng stated.

He, however, described as unfortunate the situation where the former finance minister is unable or unwilling to return to the country to respond to the allegations against him, noting that such circumstances often fuel public speculation.

Reflecting on his own experience during the UT Bank crisis, Capt Amoabeng recalled that he was informed investigations would be conducted and that he was ready to cooperate fully with the process. He said, despite advice from some quarters to leave the country at the time, he refused.

“I told them I would not leave because I had nothing to fear. I believed in the system,” he said.

Capt Amoabeng stressed that he does not sit in judgment over Ken Ofori-Atta’s decision to stay away, noting that had the former finance minister been present, he might have had the opportunity to properly clear his name.

At the same time, he acknowledged that “staying away from the jurisdiction often leads to public perceptions of running from justice”.

He further revealed that they have not remained in contact over the years, disclosing that he has not spoken to Ken Ofori-Atta since the collapse of UT Bank.

Despite the controversy, Capt Amoabeng emphasised that he harbours no bitterness or resentment towards the former finance minister.

“He was like a brother to me, and he still is a brother,” he said, adding that he bears no grudge and continues to pray for a peaceful resolution of the matter.

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According to ICE, the situation constitutes a breach of U.S. immigration law and could result in his deportation.

The clarification came from an ICE spokesperson in correspondence with Accra-based TV3 journalist Joseph Ackah-Blay, who had contacted the agency to verify reports about Ofori-Atta’s detention.

In its response, ICE explained that the former minister entered the United States on May 28, 2025, using a visitor’s visa that expired on November 27, 2025.

“Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta is an illegal alien from Ghana facing corruption and corruption-related charges in his home country,” the statement said. “He entered the United States on May 28, 2025, on a visitor’s visa with an expiration date of Nov. 27, 2025, and overstayed his permitted admission.”

ICE further noted that Ofori-Atta has been served with a Notice to Appear and will remain in custody while the legal process continues.

“He will remain in ICE custody and will be given due process before a Justice Department immigration judge,” the agency added.

The immigration authority stressed that the U.S. government expects strict compliance with immigration laws.

“Aliens must respect our laws or face consequences. Overstaying a visa is an immigration violation that may result in deportation,” ICE stated.

The development adds another layer to the legal and political challenges confronting the former finance minister as proceedings continue in the United States.

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He insisted that no one ever said he was arrested from an intensive care unit or a hospital bed.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Midday News on Tuesday, January 13, Mr Davies described comments about Mr Ofori-Atta being “medically fit for detention” as unnecessary and misleading.

“Let it be told to the ambassador that at no particular point in time have we said that Ken Ofori-Atta was picked up by ICE from a medical facility or on a hospital bed. So this business of him being medically fit is unnecessary at this point to be banging these words about,” he said.

His comments follow remarks by Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Smith, who said US Immigration and Customs Enforcement had confirmed that Mr Ofori-Atta was medically fit to be held in a detention centre before he was detained.

Mr Smith told JoyNews’ PM Express on Monday that ICE arranged for medical personnel to assess the former finance minister shortly after his arrest and concluded he was fit for detention.

Questioning the public discourse around the matter, Mr Davies said, “I’m wondering why it is becoming increasingly difficult for us to understand this simple fact of life.

“Who said that he was in the ICU before he was picked up by ICE? He was picked up in his home or wherever they picked him up.”

Mr Davies stressed that while the former finance minister had indeed undergone surgery, the issue being raised relates to his recovery period and medical clearance, not the location of his arrest.

“He has gone for surgery, which we all know. All we are saying is that he is recuperating and that he is in consultation with his medical team, and they will have to give him the all-clear to come,” he added.

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Speaking on Joy FM’s Midday News on Tuesday, Mr. Davies described the embassy’s actions as contradictory, arguing that they undermine the principles of international diplomacy.

“I ask myself, with the greatest of respect, what Ambassador Smith came to do last night on the radio. Is it not a failed mockery of international diplomacy?” he said.

“All along, they have been monitoring ICE and the FBI, leading to Ken’s arrest, and the same Ambassador Smith now wants to extend consular assistance and services to him.”

Mr. Davies further alleged that the embassy had collaborated with U.S. authorities in the process that led to Mr. Ofori-Atta’s arrest.

“He comes boldly on the radio to say that they have been collaborating and feeding information to ICE and the FBI to arrest Ken and put him in custody. If this is what is going on, Ghanaians are the best judges,” he added.

His comments come amid growing public debate over the role of Ghana’s diplomatic mission in the United States following Mr. Ofori-Atta’s detention.

In an official press release dated January 10, 2026, and signed by Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, the embassy confirmed that the former Finance Minister had been taken into custody by ICE.

According to the statement, the embassy moved swiftly to verify the circumstances surrounding the detention after becoming aware of the development.

“Upon receiving this information, the Embassy undertook the necessary steps to verify the circumstances surrounding the matter,” the statement said.

Following confirmation, the embassy said it formally contacted the relevant detention facility to request access to Mr. Ofori-Atta in order to provide consular assistance, in line with established diplomatic practice and international conventions, including the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, which guarantees detained foreign nationals the right to consular access.

However, embassy officials were informed by authorities at the detention facility that Mr. Ofori-Atta declined to engage with consular officers at that time, stating that he would only do so in the presence of his legal representatives.

The embassy noted that Mr. Ofori-Atta’s decision was respected and that consular support remains available should he choose to engage at a later time.

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Speaking on JoyNews Desk, Mr Kpebu said the situation has brought unnecessary international scrutiny to Ghana.

“This is where we should be reminding Akufo-Addo and the NPP. The Akufo-Addo administration and the NPP should prevail upon [Ofori-Atta] before he stays in custody there.

“The longer this goes on, the more we suffer embarrassment as a nation that your finance minister is running away; he is a fugitive from justice. We don’t want such embarrassment as Ghana,” he said.

He urged the party to privately contact Ofori-Atta and publicly assure Ghanaians that steps are being taken to resolve the matter.

“So the NPP, if they really consider themselves credible, they should come out openly. They should seek Ofori-Atta privately and come and assure Ghanaians that they’ve asked Ofori-Atta to come. The same for Akufo-Addo. It’s an embarrassment,” he added.

Mr Kpebu also criticised the misuse of public office and privileges:

“We can’t give you a public office; you enjoy all the privileges, etc.; you leave office, and now the payback is to embarrass us internationally. What have we done to deserve such embarrassment? So our sin is to have voted for NPP to come into office.

“Then now you get the opportunity to serve as finance minister. Then you are asked to come and answer questions. You run away, you get arrested, and now it’s an embarrassment internationally for us as Ghana. I don’t think we deserve that,” he said.

He further stressed the high responsibility of the former finance minister and urged Ofori-Atta to reduce the embarrassment to the country by returning:

“If anything at all, we gave him an opportunity to serve in a high public office. Minister, that’s very high. The finance minister, at that. So he should reduce the embarrassment to Ghana by coming. And the NPP and Akufo-Addo must step in and publicly tell us what they are doing. It’s not a matter of just politics,” he said.

Reacting to statements from some NPP members advising Ofori-Atta not to return, Mr Kpebu added:

“And that’s how it comes when you read statements from some of the NPP members that they would advise Ofori-Atta not to come.

“Really? Do we understand what we are saying? We give you public office, such an honour. And then the payback is to embarrass us internationally. We can’t take that,” he concluded.

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Victor Smith told Joy News’ PM Express on Monday that the Ghanaian mission had sought access to Mr Ofori-Atta to verify his welfare and ensure he was being treated in line with international protocols.

“We decided to make a request to make sure that he was being treated properly, as per international protocols,” he said.

According to him, ICE initially agreed to allow the embassy to visit the former minister. Arrangements were made, and consular officers prepared to leave for the detention facility.

“Just before we set out, the ICE agents came again and said the detainee had refused to meet with us without his lawyers,” Mr Smith said.

He said ICE later returned with a stronger response.

“After about a few hours, they came back to us to say the detainee, being the ex minister, had refused now to see us under any circumstances,” he said.

Mr Smith said the decision effectively ended the embassy’s involvement at that stage.

“So that was the end of the road for me and the embassy,” he added.

Clarifying earlier reports, the High Commissioner said consular officers did not travel to the detention centre. He explained that ICE representatives came directly to his office to relay the messages.

“They had indicated initially in the phone conversation that they had cleared a way for us to go,” he said.

He said that moments before departure, ICE officials informed the embassy of a problem.

“They said the detainee is unwilling to have us visit him without his lawyers,” he said.

Mr Smith said after waiting several hours, ICE returned with a final answer.

“He was adamant. He wasn’t going to now, under no circumstance, want to see us,” he said.

Asked how he reacted, the High Commissioner said the decision was disappointing on a personal and official level.

“We’re a bit of a disappointment, because I know Ken personally,” he said.

“He may not be my friend, but I know him personally,” he added.

Mr Smith said no one had visited Mr Ofori-Atta at the time, and the embassy only wanted to hear directly from him if he had concerns.

“Being a Ghanaian and being our responsibility, so to speak, in a host country, I felt that if we had had the opportunity to at least hear about if he had some concerns for us, to probably try and assist,” he said.

“So shutting the door in our face and not wanting to see us under any circumstances was a bit unfortunate,” he added.

Mr Smith also addressed concerns about the former finance minister’s health and the conditions of detention.

He said ICE had assured the embassy that Mr Ofori-Atta had been medically assessed before being detained.

“They had medical people to determine whether he was fit to be held in the detention centre,” he said.

He said ICE confirmed that Mr Ofori-Atta was on medication and had access to it while in detention.

“He was on medication, but he wasn’t seeing any doctor at the time, and he had his medication, so he could be put in the detention centre,” he said.

Mr Smith said ICE detention facilities have fully manned medical centres and that he was satisfied with the explanations given.

“They have a very well-manned Medical Centre for the detainees,” he said.

He said ICE officials were open to scrutiny and wanted transparency.

“They were very welcoming and said, come and see for yourself,” he said.

“I respected what he had said to me, that he had been assessed and was given the all clear to be held in that detention centre,” Mr Smith added.

Background

Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement over questions surrounding his immigration status.

His legal team has confirmed that he is cooperating fully with ICE while efforts are underway to resolve the matter.

According to a statement, Mr Ofori-Atta has a pending petition for adjustment of status, a process under US law that allows an individual to remain legally in the country beyond the validity of an initial visa.

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Victor Smith told Joy News’ PM Express on Monday that ICE arranged for medical personnel to assess Mr Ofori-Atta shortly after his arrest.

“Yes, the ICE people confirm that he was all right. Initially, they had medical people to determine whether he was fit to be held in the detention centre, and they were convinced and were assured that he was okay,” he said.

Mr Smith said ICE informed him that although Mr Ofori-Atta was on medication, he was not seeing a doctor at the time and had access to his medication while in detention.

“He was on medication, but he wasn’t seeing any doctor at the time, and he had his medication, so he could be put in the detention centre,” he stated.

He added that the assessment was conducted by medical professionals attached to the detention facility, not by ICE officers.

“They had caused him to be assessed by the medical personnel, not themselves,” he said.

Mr Smith said ICE explained that detainees with serious medical conditions are usually referred to external medical facilities rather than kept in detention centres.

“If he had any serious medical conditions, maybe they would have referred him to a medical facility outside the detention centre,” he added.

The High Commissioner also disclosed that Ghana’s embassy had made efforts to secure consular access to Mr Ofori-Atta but was unable to meet him because he refused to be visited without his lawyers present.

He said his involvement began after Mr Ofori-Atta had been picked up by ICE, prompting discussions with consular officers at the Ghanaian embassy.

“I discussed it with the consular officers of my embassy, and we decided to make a request to make sure that he was being treated properly, as per international protocols,” he said.

According to Mr Smith, ICE initially agreed to allow the embassy to visit the former minister, but the plan collapsed shortly before the visit.

“Just before we set out the ICE agents came again and said the detainee had refused to meet with us without his lawyers,” he said.

He explained that after waiting for several hours, ICE returned with a final response.

“After about a few hours, they came back to us to say the detainee, being the ex minister, had refused now to see us under any circumstances,” he said.

Mr Smith said ICE officers personally came to his office to relay the developments.

“The ICE agents came here. The representative came to my office,” he said.

He described the refusal as disappointing, given that no one had visited Mr Ofori-Atta at the time.

“We’re a bit of a disappointment, because I know Ken personally. He may not be my friend, but I know him personally,” he said.

“Being a Ghanaian and being our responsibility, so to speak, in a host country, I felt that if we had had the opportunity to at least hear about, if he had some concerns for us, to probably try and assist,” he added.

Mr Smith said the embassy respected Mr Ofori-Atta’s decision and did not pursue further attempts to visit him.

“So shutting the door in our face and not wanting to see us under any circumstances was a bit unfortunate,” he said.

Background

Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta is currently in the custody of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement over questions relating to the status of his stay in the country.

His legal team has confirmed that he is cooperating fully with ICE while efforts are underway to resolve the matter.

According to a statement released by his lawyers, Mr Ofori-Atta has a pending petition for adjustment of status, a legal process under US law that allows an individual to remain in the country beyond the validity of an initial visa.

ICE is yet to announce a final decision on the matter.

Mr Ofori-Atta’s detention comes amid questions over his legal status in the country, but his lawyers confirm he is fully cooperating with ICE while working to resolve the matter.

The former minister has a pending petition for adjustment of status, a process that allows individuals to remain legally in the US beyond their initial visa.

Evans Mensah asked Jonelle Ocloo, a US immigration lawyer, whether Ofori-Atta could be among the rare few who are arrested but still allowed to stay.

She said, “You say, based on everything else you are reading and hearing and your experience, Ken Ofori-Atta could be part of the 0.6% who may actually be arrested and get to stay in the US certainly.”

Ms Ocloo explained how this could play out. She noted that Ofori-Atta has an immigration hearing scheduled for next week.

“Once again, given the legal team that Mister Ofori-Atta has, it is quite likely, I’m sure, that they could file a number of things.

“For example, they could file a writ of habeas corpus with the US Federal Courts, basically stating that their client is being unjustly held,” she said.

Even before the hearing, Ms Ocloo said his lawyers could request his release on bond, provided they demonstrate that he is not a flight risk.

“It seems that’s the case, because it’s the opposite, right? He’s not trying to leave the US. He wants to stay in the US,” she said.

If granted, release on parole could include conditions such as electronic monitoring or curfews.

“One thing is clear, which you’ve said, is that Mr Ofori-Atta is a person of means. Given the legal team that he has, they will find ways for him not to have to be deported,” Ocloo added.

The FBI’s involvement, she noted, suggests that the case is more than a simple visa-overstay issue.

Mr Ofori-Atta’s legal team has said the former minister is cooperating fully and is seeking a resolution that allows him to remain in the US while his petition for adjustment of status is considered.

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Mr. Davies said the Attorney-General’s repeated public disclosures about the investigation undermine due process and create the impression of guilt without a court determination. He argued that the constitutional role of the Attorney-General is to conduct investigations discreetly and prosecute where there is sufficient evidence, not to litigate matters in the media.

Speaking on JoyNews’ News Desk on Monday, January 12, Mr. Davies described Dr. Ayine’s media engagements on the matter as inappropriate and damaging to the integrity of the justice system.

“Dr. Ayine is the Attorney-General, not an acting Attorney-General. These public gimmicks and theatrics do not befit the office ….If he believes he has a case, he should conclude the investigation and charge Ken Ofori-Atta. He should stop coming on the radio to discuss an inconclusive matter,” he said.

Mr. Davies further warned that publicly discussing inconclusive investigations risks prejudicing both the subject of the probe and any potential judicial proceedings, stressing that the rule of law demands restraint and professionalism from the country’s chief prosecutor.

His comments follow disclosures by the Attorney General on Newsfile that his office is collaborating with foreign authorities to track alleged offshore financial dealings linked to the former Finance Minister, who is currently in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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A member of the legal team of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has criticised comments made by lawyer Abraham Amaliba over the former minister’s current legal situation in the United States.

Speaking on Prime Insight on Joy Prime on Saturday, January 10, lawyer Frank Davies dismissed claims that Mr Ofori-Atta’s lawyers in Ghana are not properly informed about developments in the case.

During the programme, the host referred to comments made by Mr Amaliba in a video circulating online.

In the video, Mr Amaliba suggested that the Ghana-based lawyers of the former finance minister did not have full knowledge of his status, especially since lawyers in the United States had gone silent after Mr Ofori-Atta’s reported detention by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

According to Mr Amaliba, the US lawyers had earlier spoken publicly about the extradition process, including granting an interview to the BBC, but had stopped commenting since the ICE detention.

He said that the matter had now been left to lawyers in Ghana who “do not even have information” about what is happening in the US.

Responding to this, Mr Davies said, “Well, Amaliba, my good friend, is a trained lawyer. And when lawyers talk in this pedestrian manner, I got a bit worried.”

He questioned why Mr Amaliba would assume that the former Finance Minister’s lawyers in Ghana are not in contact with their counterparts in the United States.

“What does he know about engagement between American lawyers and lawyers?” he asked. “If he’s doing a case in Ghana, and there’s another leg in America, is he trying to suggest that American lawyers will not give him feedback as to what is happening?”

Mr Davies added that lawyers should avoid speaking publicly on matters they do not fully understand.

“When people have little knowledge of something, it is better for them to keep quiet rather than go around embarrassing themselves and saying all kinds of things because they want to be heard on the radio or television,” he said.

“It is needless. I would say that his government is in power. Sedinam Tamakloe-Attionu has been convicted, regularly and legally, by a court of competent jurisdiction. She’s a criminal fugitive, and she is in America. Tell him that while he’s talking about Ken, he should tell his Attorney General to also start extradition proceedings to bring Sedinam to Ghana to come and answer for her crime.”

On the issue of Mr Ofori-Atta’s detention, Mr Davies confirmed that legal action has already been taken in the United States.

“The lawyers in America have filed the process in court to challenge his custody in ICE detention,” he said.

He explained that the case will be heard later this month and questioned what Mr Amaliba expected the US lawyers to be saying publicly at this stage.

“That process will be heard later this month. What does he expect the lawyers in America to be saying?” Mr Davies asked.

“That is why we are here as lawyers, because we have collaboration and teamwork with American lawyers.”

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Speaking in an interview on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, January 10, Manasseh said he does not personally track Ofori-Atta but relies on detailed accounts from credible sources familiar with the arrest.

According to Manasseh, sources indicated that the arrest took place in Washington, D.C., at a luxury apartment complex known as the Westlight Building, located at 111, 24th Street.

He described the area as an upscale neighbourhood, approximately a 20-minute walk from the White House.

He said the Westlight Building is believed to be the residence of Ken Ofori-Atta and some members of his family, including his wife and son.

Manasseh further noted that the apartment complex is known for housing high-profile individuals, adding that former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris lived in the same building prior to her election. He stated that Harris’s two-bedroom apartment in the building was reportedly sold for about US$1.85 million in April 2025, underscoring the exclusivity of the property.

Giving a detailed account of the arrest, Manasseh said sources told him the former finance minister was picked up on Tuesday morning at about 11 a.m. while he was moving out of the building.

“As soon as he stepped outside, agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) surrounded him, put him into a vehicle and drove him away,” he said.

According to the account, Mr Ofori-Atta was transported to the Caroline Detention Center in Virginia, located approximately 89 miles from the site of the arrest — a journey Manasseh said took about an hour and a half.

He stressed that the nature of the arrest suggests it was not a routine or mass operation.

“Sometimes ICE officials conduct raids or mass arrests, but everything I’m hearing from sources who were present shows this was a targeted operation,” Manasseh stated. “It appeared to be an ambush. They waited for him to emerge, surrounded him, and immediately drove him away.”

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The incident reportedly unfolded in Washington, D.C., where he resided in the US.

According to sources who spoke to Mr Awuni and were present at the scene, Mr Ofori-Atta was apprehended by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers as he stepped out of the building on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.

He says eyewitnesses described the arrest as a targeted operation.

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Mr Ofori-Atta has been detained by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over questions surrounding the status of his stay in the country, according to a statement issued by his legal team.

The lawyers confirmed that the former minister is cooperating fully with ICE while engagements are ongoing to resolve the matter as quickly as possible.

The statement explained that Mr Ofori-Atta has a pending petition for adjustment of status, a process under U.S. immigration law that allows an individual to remain legally in the country beyond the validity of an initial visa while the application is under consideration.

His legal team described the process as a common immigration procedure and expressed confidence that the issue would be resolved expeditiously.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, January 10, Mr Khalid urged the public to exercise restraint, noting that situations are often more complex than they appear at first glance.

“Things are not always the way they are, and how we react to them can be very different,” he said, cautioning against drawing conclusions based on prima facie or circulating information.

The Associate Professor of Accounting and Finance stressed that he would not suggest that Mr Ofori-Atta had brought the situation upon himself, observing that mistakes can occur in public office.

“Sometimes errors happen in public office, so I would wait for a competent court of jurisdiction to pass that verdict on Ken Ofori-Atta,” Mr Khalid said.

Reflecting on the former finance minister’s career, Mr Khalid highlighted Mr Ofori-Atta’s prominence on the global stage prior to leaving office.

“This is someone who has been to IMF annual conferences, dined with the high and mighty, met presidents, and attended African Development Bank and Exim Bank conferences,” he said. “You rub shoulders with the crème de la crème.”

He described the former minister’s current predicament, less than a year after leaving office, as unfortunate and difficult for anyone to endure.

However, Mr Khalid warned that the longer Mr Ofori-Atta remains abroad and out of the public eye, the more the situation could escalate in the arena of public perception.

“I was thinking that the more he stays out, the more he aggravates his situation—not in the court of law, but in the court of public opinion,” he noted.

While acknowledging that public opinion does not determine legal outcomes, Mr Khalid emphasised its powerful social and psychological impact.

“The court of public opinion may not have any weight in terms of determining your case, but socially, it has a psychological element in the impact it has on your reputation,” he added.

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