Former finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta (L) and Sedinam Tamakloe-Attionu
Frank Davies, lawyer for former Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta, has criticised state security agencies over efforts to extradite ken from the United States of America.
According to him, the system appears to be biased in its pursuit of Ken Ofori-Atta, especially when compared to the handling of the case involving former MASLOC Chief Executive Officer, Sedinam Tamakloe-Attionu.
Davies noted that Sedinam Tamakloe-Attionu has been convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction but has refused to return to Ghana, yet authorities appear less aggressive in pursuing her extradition.
He argued that a government that has repeatedly pledged to fight corruption must demonstrate fairness and consistency by pursuing all convicted persons with equal intensity.
Speaking in an interview on Joy News on January 13, 2025, Davies stated that while Sedinam Tamakloe-Attionu has already been convicted, Ken Ofori-Atta has not yet faced trial and therefore priority should be given to extraditing her.
“Sedinam Tamakloe-Attionu has been convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction of corruption and corruptible tendencies. She is a criminal fugitive in the United States. I think our government, on the threshold of what they promised Ghanaians, should be able to bring Attionu back to Ghana, and then they can deal with Ken Ofori-Atta.
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Sedinam Attionu has blood running through her veins; Ken Ofori-Atta has palm kernel oil, ‘Adwe Ngo’ running through his veins, so he is now more important than Sedinam, who has been convicted? Is this the justice we are preaching in Ghana? This double standard, hypocrisy, and intellectual dishonesty will not aid Ghana,” he said.
Ken Ofori-Atta has been charged with corruption and corruption-related offences in connection with the Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) scandal.
The Government of Ghana has formally requested his extradition from the United States to face the charges.
The former MASLOC CEO has been jailed 10 years in absentia by an Accra High Court.
Attionu Tamakloe during the trial went abroad for medical examination and failed to return.
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