The high-exposure case against the former Finance Minister of Ghana Ken Ofori-Atta involving the assets of the former government has taken a twist with United States federal agencies, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Department of Justice (DOJ), coming to the aid of the Ga-Dangbe-based country.
US Embassy reports in Accra reveal that American officials have cleared the way to the possible extradition of Ofori-Atta, as they have officially ruled out the allegations that the case against the latter is politically-motivated.
This is the recent turn of events to show the increasing collaboration among other nations as Ghana is seeking the fraudulent and corruption of a public office by the previous minister under the government of the then President Nana Akufo-Addo.
The FBI confirms the validity of the investigation in Ghana
Credible sources quoted by JoyNews state that the FBI and DOJ have gone over the facts of the Ghanaian investigation and decided that there is indeed enough evidence that makes Ofori-Atta accountable to his actions as custodian of the Ghanaian economy.
One of the senior sources within the US Embassy has termed the investigation as valid, disputing the allegations that it is a witch-hunting process politically.
Having Washington back up these claims, the legal agencies of Ghana are hence in a better position to make formal requests of extradition procedures.
This approval will help clear diplomatic obstacles to speed up the process of having Ofori-Atta account on the charges of financial malpractice at home.
Desired by Other State Agencies
Ken Ofori-Atta who was the face of economic management of Ghana is now wanted by a number of major state agencies.
They are Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB).
Ofori-Atta is on the wanted list of the Office of the Special prosecutor since June 2, 2025, and an Interpol Red Notice seeks his arrest. Among the cases being investigated include dubious contractual dealings between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SMGL) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and issues related to some of the procurement irregularities linked to the controversial National Cathedral project.
Extradition Propagation in Process
This was confirmed to JoyNews by Deputy Attorney General, Justice Srem-Sai who reported Ghana has taken formal steps to extradite Ofori-Atta to Ghana through the United States.
Ofori-Atta is being treated medically in the US after it is said that he has undergone a prostate cancer operation in the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.
To have him back, we have initiated legal action to get him back. An extradition request already has been filed with the police units in the United States and given the nod, he will be arrested and taken through the extradition path, Srem-Sai added.
The legal process is being headed by the office of the Attorney General, in close collaboration with the US authorities and other international law enforcement agencies including INTERPOL.
Family Slams Foul, Declines Charges
Heavy pressure notwithstanding, the family of Ofori-Atta claims the investigations are targeted unfairly at him. In a vigorous statement, the family blamed the Special Prosecutor Office of “prejudice and partiality.”
They have also petitioned the National Central Bureau and the Commission for the Control of the INTERPOL Files (CCF), asking the Red Notice to be canceled as soon as possible.
They say the arrest warrant was issued on a suspicious ground and without the court supported affidavit.
The family also asserts that the health status of the ex-minister is being used against him politically to score points saying that Ofori-Atta cannot travel and must be left to recuperate.
The Ghanaian Stakes
The case has stirred the debate in Ghana once more, and the civil society organizations have demanded the government to act according to its accords of being transparent and corruption free.
This is widely viewed by many Ghanaians as a landmark event in justice in the country, coming as it has at the end of years of clamour by the citizenry over a culture of mismanagement and charges of corruption by the previous regime.
According to experts, the endorsement of the FBI on Ofori-Atta may help Ghana in its legal grounds in extraditing the former minister and enable the former minister to hard to escape the law.
Should the extradition be successful, a legal analyst told JoyNews, then it will be among the first loudest voices spoken against high-level corruption in the history of democracy in Ghana.
Nevertheless, this is still regarded as a very tender situation because the opposition political parties have cautioned the government on any attempt to use it as a platform to score political points.
As extradition is going on all the eyes are on Ghanaian judiciary and law enforcement agencies in ensuring that the process is transparent and fair in upholding both justice and the rule of law.
The ball is at the moment squarely in the US legal system, but the writing is on the wall Ken Ofori-Atta will most probably be called back home to face the people of Ghana.
About The Author
