Ofori-Atta has hired ‘top US lawyers’ to fight extradition – Attorney-General

Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has engaged a high-powered legal team in the United States to resist Ghana’s efforts to have him returned to stand trial, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Dominic Ayine has revealed.

Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Thursday, 18 December, Dr Ayine said he had been informed only recently that Mr Ofori-Atta had retained “some of the top, very experienced lawyers” in the US to challenge the extradition request.

According to the Attorney-General, the move signals a potentially lengthy legal battle in the American courts, making it impossible to predict when the former minister might be brought back to Ghana.

He stressed that he was not deterred by the development but acknowledged that the structure of the US justice system allows for multiple layers of challenge.

Dr Ayine noted that because of these appeal avenues, he could not give any firm indication of when Mr Ofori-Atta might return.

Despite the anticipated delays, the Attorney-General insisted that the Mahama administration remains resolute in its efforts to secure Mr Ofori-Atta’s return to face charges in Ghana.

He also issued a personal appeal to the former minister to voluntarily return home, promising that he would be treated fairly under the law.

He emphasised that Mr Ofori-Atta would not receive discriminatory treatment and would be handled in the same way as other high-profile accused persons already before the courts.

The Government Accountability Series is part of a broader initiative to provide periodic public updates on key prosecutions, asset recoveries and policy implementation, as the administration seeks to project transparency and reinforce confidence in the justice system.