President John Mahama has said Ghana’s Attorney General’s Department has initiated an extradition request seeking the return of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, who is currently outside the country.
Speaking at a Citizens’ Engagement at Ho Technical University during his Resetting Ghana Tour of the Volta Region, Mr Mahama said the process depended on the applicable treaty arrangements and legal procedures in the country where Mr Ofori-Atta is residing.
According to the President, Ghana must make a formal extradition application under an existing treaty before the request can be considered. He said further documents had been requested after the initial application was submitted.
Mr Mahama said Mr Ofori-Atta would be entitled to contest any extradition application before a court in the United States. He explained that an American judge would decide whether the former minister should be returned to Ghana.
The President also urged Mr Ofori-Atta to return voluntarily, arguing that a person confident of having done nothing wrong should not remain away from the country. The remarks reflected Mr Mahama’s position and did not set out any specific allegation against the former minister.
Mr Mahama referred to Mr Ofori-Atta’s time as Finance Minister and recalled calls by more than 80 New Patriotic Party Members of Parliament for his removal from office during the previous administration.
He said Mr Ofori-Atta would be entitled to a fair trial and legal representation should he return to Ghana, adding that the country’s judicial system should be allowed to handle any matter involving him.
The President said the outcome would depend on how the legal process develops. Mr Ofori-Atta’s response to the President’s latest comments was not included in the source material.
