The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has clarified that the extradition process involving former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta remains active despite reports that he has been granted permanent residency in the United States.
The clarification follows a statement by Mr. Ofori-Atta’s lawyers indicating that a United States immigration court had approved his application for adjustment of status, commonly known as a Green Card.
The legal team also stated that the court found the criminal charges filed against him in Ghana “not credible,” a claim that has generated public debate over the status of the extradition proceedings.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, June 16, the OSP said it was not a party to the immigration proceedings in the United States and that its interest remains solely in the extradition case being pursued through Ghana’s Attorney-General.
“The OSP states that it is not involved in immigration hearings in the United States involving Mr. Ofori-Atta. The OSP’s involvement is in respect of extradition proceedings against Mr. Ofori-Atta through the Attorney-General as the central authority,” the statement read in part.
The anti-graft agency stressed that the immigration court did not have before it the extradition request initiated by Ghanaian authorities.
According to the OSP, questions regarding the validity of the criminal charges against the former minister will ultimately be determined by courts in Ghana.
“The OSP states that the extradition packet is not before the immigration court; and the credibility or otherwise of the criminal charges against Mr. Ofori-Atta would be determined by the courts in Ghana, who have jurisdiction to determine his guilt or innocence,” it stated.
The Office further stressed that Mr. Ofori-Atta remains a Ghanaian citizen and can still be extradited should a competent court in the United States approve the request.
“Mr. Ofori-Atta still remains a citizen of Ghana and he is still amenable to be extradited to Ghana if so decided by the extradition court in the United States,” the statement read.
