US Greenlights Ken Ofori-Atta Extradition, Ghana Moves Closer to Justice
Ghana’s efforts to extradite former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta from the United States have received a significant boost, with the US government assuring that it will not impede the process. Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa disclosed this after a high-level bilateral meeting between Ghana and US officials, stating that the US has given Ghana the greenlight to proceed with Ofori-Atta’s extradition.
According to GhanaWeb, Ablakwa revealed that the US government has assured Ghana that it will not stand in the way of Ofori-Atta’s removal, without prejudice to ongoing judicial processes. This development comes after Ofori-Atta was declared a wanted man by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) over allegations of financial malfeasance and causing financial loss to the state.
The OSP has been seeking to extradite Ofori-Atta to face charges related to the Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) scandal, among other cases. Ofori-Atta’s legal team, however, has hinted at initiating legal steps in the US to challenge his detention by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The Ghana-US bilateral meeting also reviewed progress made in 2025, including the extradition of nine suspects from Ghana to the US, and outlined priority areas for cooperation in 2026. Ablakwa noted that the discussions covered security, economic, and trade cooperation, with both sides expressing satisfaction with the improved business climate.
The US has assured Ghana that it will expedite visa applications for Ghanaian nationals, particularly in light of the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Ghana now awaits final approval from the US Senate for the extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
Source: GhanaWeb
Author: Korkor Anumu
