Ken Ofori-Atta
The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has announced the transfer of the complete processes seeking to extradite former Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta and his Chef de Cabinet, Ernest Darko Akore from the United States to stand trial in Ghana for corruption and related offences.
The two former government appointees have been charged by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) alongside six others for their involvement in a revenue assurance contract awarded by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) which, according to the OSP, has caused the nation over GH¢1.4 billion financial loss.
Both men are said to be in the United States and the OSP has since the middle of this year initiated processes to have them extradited to Ghana to stand trial on charges which are currently before a High Court in Accra.
Addressing the press at the Presidency yesterday, Dr. Ayine said the Office of the Attorney General on December 10, 2025, transmitted the complete extradition request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for onward submission to the Department of Justice in the United States of America.
“At this point, it is left to the American authorities, especially the judicial authorities, to make a decision on whether a sufficient basis exists for the two accused persons to be extradited to Ghana to stand trial,” Dr. Ayine added.
Ofori-Atta Fights Back
Meanwhile, the Attorney General has disclosed that Mr. Ofori-Atta has hired some top lawyers in the United States to challenge his extradition to Ghana.
“I just got to know yesterday [December 17] that he has hired some of the top lawyers in the United States of America, very experienced lawyers, to defend him,” Dr. Ayine told the press.
He said the legal battle could go on for a long time given the federal nature of the US legal system which has several levels of appeal, a factor that could delay the extradition process.
“I’m not afraid at all,” Dr. Ayine stated, while indicating that “but it means that there’s going to be a fight in the federal courts in the US. If the district court says no, he will go to the circuit court. If the circuit court says no, he’s entitled to go to the US Supreme Court to fight his case.”
He added that “So, I cannot tell you that he will come tomorrow or he will come the next day. I’m just being honest. Accounting to the people means being explicit and truthful. This is what we are faced with.”
He also stressed that government is committed to ensuring that Mr. Ofori-Atta receives a fair trial, while encouraging him to return to Ghana voluntarily.
“…If I were him, I would join the next available flight. Under my watch, he will not be treated unfairly; he will go through due process and be prosecuted just like any other person,” he stated.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak