National Communications Member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kofi Tonto, has defended former Finance Minister Kenneth Ofori-Atta, arguing that the legal processes surrounding his case in the United States must be understood beyond the surface.
Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem, Kofi Tonto questioned calls for the U.S. authorities to simply hand over Ofori-Atta to Ghana.
“You claim someone has committed a crime, but how can the U.S. State Department confirm the crime you have accused the person of without due process?” he asked.
He said many Ghanaians often focus on the surface of issues instead of examining the substance.
“I always say that if we do not pay attention to the substance of matters and only focus on the surface, we will continue to remain where we are,” he stated.
According to him, the United States has established laws, known as statutes or U.S. codes, that guide how fugitives and extradition matters are handled.
“When you read the laws, they clearly state how the U.S. government treats people who are declared fugitives in their home countries,” he explained.
Kofi Tonto said if Ghana believes a person has committed a crime and is residing abroad, there are laid-down procedures involving the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Ghana Embassy, and the U.S. Secretary of State before the matter can even be placed before a judge.
He further argued that under U.S. law, the alleged offence must be a legitimate crime and not a politically motivated attempt to persecute the person.
“The law is clear. If the U.S. government believes the request is only to persecute the person and not prosecute an actual crime, they will not hand him over,” he said.
He claimed that U.S. authorities are monitoring developments in Ghana and are aware of public discussions surrounding Ofori-Atta.
“The U.S. government has an embassy in Ghana. They see everything happening in the news, and they know some people want Ofori-Atta brought back to face trial. They are watching all of this and may view it as politically motivated,” he added.
His comments come amid ongoing investigations involving Kenneth Ofori-Atta, who is facing several criminal allegations linked to decisions taken during his tenure as Finance Minister.
Among the allegations is a claim that a contract awarded to Strategic Mobilisation Limited resulted in losses of more than GH¢1.4 billion to the state.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has also been investigating the former minister and, in June 2025, initiated steps to secure an INTERPOL Red Notice after he allegedly failed to honour multiple invitations for questioning. The notice was later removed by INTERPOL.
The OSP, however, maintains that reports of Ofori-Atta acquiring lawful permanent residency in the United States do not shield him from criminal investigations in Ghana or affect ongoing efforts to secure his return for questioning.
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