Ken Ofori-Atta Extradition: Attorney General Gives Update on Processes to Arrest Ex-Finance Minister
Attorney General Dominic Ayine has said the government is yet to build a strong case against former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to allow for his extraction from the US.
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Ghana cannot formally request the extradition of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta from the US until a solid legal case is built and charges are filed.
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Speaking to the press on October 22, Ayine said that extradition processes, particularly with the U.S., require comprehensive documentation, including formal charges, before a request can be made.
“When doing extradition, you cannot request unless you have a solid case — a docket that has been built. And in the case of the Americans, the practice is for you to have filed charges."
Ayine cited a previous case involving Kojo Boateng, in which the U.S. Department of Justice submitted a full bill of indictment detailing charges and supporting facts after a six-year investigation before Ghana acted on the request.
He explained that the Attorney General’s Office is currently waiting for the appropriate docket from the relevant investigative bodies before taking the next legal steps.
Ayine also clarified that while the Office of the Special Prosecutor has made statements regarding the matter, his office must adhere to due process in line with international extradition procedures.
“I respect the autonomy of the Office of the Special Prosecutor, but we in the Attorney General’s Department cannot begin an extradition request with a bare letter. We need the evidence to be able to do so."
Ayine assured that the formal processes have begun and the government will act once the required evidence is available.
Ofori-Atta is being investigated by the special prosecutor for five cases, including the state contract with Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited and the Ghana Revenue Authority, as well as procurement processes and financial transactions linked to the National Cathedral project.
Earlier tension over Ken Ofori-Atta extradition
Deputy Attorney General, Dr. Justice Srem Sai, sparked some controversy when he said the special prosecutor had not provided dockets to trigger Ofori-Atta's extradition from the US.
Sai said several letters had been written to the special prosecutor to release the dockets, but there had been no progress on the matter.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor denied suggestions that it was deliberately blocking the extradition of Ofori-Atta.
It also dismissed allegations that it was refusing to collaborate with the Attorney-General to bring the former Finance Minister to justice, despite many months passing.
Special prosecutor's office secures first convictions
In July, YEN.com.gh reported that the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has recorded its first convictions since being set up in 2018.
One of the convictions relates to the trial of Charles Bissue, former secretary of the defunct Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining.
Seven people in all were convicted by the Special Prosecutor.
Source: YEN.com.gh
