The Government of Ghana’s bid to hold former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta accountable for his tenure under President Nana Akufo-Addo has received a significant boost, with US authorities dismissing claims that the move constitutes a political witch-hunt.
Sources at the US Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), through the US Embassy in Accra, have reportedly confirmed to that they are satisfied the request for Mr. Ofori-Atta to respond to investigations in Ghana is legitimate.
According to the sources, the matter does not fall under categories of persecution or political witch-hunting that would warrant protective relief under U.S. immigration law or international human rights protocols.
Ken Ofori-Atta, currently receiving medical care in the United States, has accused the Ghanaian government—particularly the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP)—of violating his fundamental human rights through persistent efforts to interrogate him over allegations of financial malfeasance and causing financial loss to the state.
In addition to the OSP, the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) and the National Investigation Bureau (NIB) are also seeking to question him regarding similar allegations.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor has twice declared Mr. Ofori-Atta a fugitive from justice for failing to honour invitations to appear before it. The OSP has since applied for his extradition through the competent authority—the Office of the Attorney General and Minister for Justice.
Extradition is a legal process that allows law enforcement agencies to seek the return of suspects who are outside the jurisdiction. It requires full cooperation and approval from the host country, in this case, the United States, which may evaluate the request based on its own investigative and judicial standards.
The process may face delays, particularly if the subject contests the extradition in court.
Aside from its core responsibilities in combating crimes such as terrorism, cybercrime, corruption, and organised crime, the FBI’s international legal attachés also assist in coordinating transnational investigations through U.S. embassies globally.
Ken Ofori-Atta has filed multiple legal suits seeking to overturn his classification as a wanted person and to challenge what he terms an abuse of his human rights.