FBI Approves Ken Ofori-Atta’s Extradition – Report

The Government of Ghana’s efforts to hold former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta accountable for his actions during President Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration have gained traction, as U.S. authorities reportedly dismissed claims that the move constitutes political persecution.

According to sources within the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), relayed through the U.S. Embassy in Accra to Myjoyonline.com, the request for Ofori-Atta to face investigations in Ghana has been deemed legitimate and not politically motivated.

The sources confirmed that the case does not meet the threshold for protection under U.S. immigration law or international human rights protocols that shield individuals from political witch-hunting or persecution.

Ofori-Atta, who is currently undergoing medical treatment in the United States, has accused the Ghanaian government—particularly the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP)of infringing on his fundamental human rights through repeated attempts to investigate him over alleged financial impropriety and causing economic loss to the state.

In addition to the OSP, the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) and the National Investigation Bureau (NIB) have also expressed interest in questioning him over related allegations.

The OSP has twice classified Ofori-Atta as a fugitive after he failed to respond to official invitations. Consequently, the office has requested his extradition through the legally designated channel the Office of the Attorney General and Minister for Justice.

Extradition, a formal legal procedure to return suspects across jurisdictions, requires the cooperation and approval of the host nation in this case, the United States based on its own legal assessments and due process. The process can be delayed if the accused contests it in court.

Beyond its primary roles in tackling terrorism, cybercrime, corruption, and organized crime, the FBI also facilitates international investigations through its legal attachés stationed at U.S. embassies worldwide.

Meanwhile, Ken Ofori-Atta has launched multiple legal challenges in an effort to revoke his designation as a wanted individual and to contest what he describes as violations of his human rights.

The FBI has cleared a key hurdle in extraditing Ghana’s former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta from the U.S., validating Ghana’s corruption allegations.

The 2003 U.S.-Ghana Extradition Treaty supports this, despite Ofori-Atta’s human rights claims.

This rare case boosts… pic.twitter.com/zHFh4fgha7

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Source: MyJoyOnline