The United States Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have reportedly expressed support for the Government of Ghana’s request to extradite former Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, who has been declared wanted by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and listed on INTERPOL’s Red Notice database.
- The United States Department of Justice and FBI support Ghana’s request to extradite former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
- Ofori-Atta has been declared wanted by Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor and listed on INTERPOL’s Red Notice database.
- The U.S. authorities do not view the charges against Ofori-Atta as political persecution.
According to a report by myjoyonline.com, sources at the U.S. Embassy in Accra confirmed that both agencies have determined that the legal processes initiated against Ofori-Atta are valid and do not constitute political persecution.
No grounds for witch-hunt claims, U.S. authorities reportedly say
The report indicates that the U.S. Department of Justice and FBI found no basis to classify the extradition request as a witch-hunt. It was also noted that any foreign national in the U.S. who believes they are being unfairly targeted by their home government may seek protection under U.S. immigration law.
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Ken Ofori-Atta, believed to be currently residing in the United States, was re-declared wanted by the OSP on 12 February 2025, with an INTERPOL Red Notice subsequently issued against him.
OSP investigating multiple high-profile cases involving Ofori-Atta
The Office of the Special Prosecutor is probing Ofori-Atta in relation to several significant public sector contracts and financial decisions during his tenure. These include:
1. Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd Contract – Alleged irregularities in contracts between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited and the GRA for revenue assurance in key sectors.
2. ECG-BXC Contract Termination – Investigation into the cancellation of a distribution and loss reduction contract between ECG and Beijing Xiao Cheng Technology.
3. National Cathedral Project – Scrutiny over procurement practices, payments, and contractor selection for the controversial National Cathedral.
4. Ambulance Procurement – Probing the Ministry of Health’s contract with Service Ghana Auto Group Limited for the acquisition and servicing of over 300 ambulances.
5. GRA Tax Refund Account – Investigation into the management and use of funds from the Ghana Revenue Authority’s tax refund account. EOCO and NIB Also on the Case
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Ghana’s Deputy Attorney General has confirmed that in addition to the OSP’s investigations, Ken Ofori-Atta is also under scrutiny by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the National Investigation Bureau (NIB) for related corruption and procurement infractions.
With reported endorsement from U.S. authorities, Ghana’s efforts to bring the former minister back to face charges may gain momentum. However, legal and diplomatic hurdles remain as extradition processes can be protracted, especially when high-profile figures are involved.
