The Mahama administration appears to be stepping up efforts to secure the return of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to Ghana, as Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Dr. Dominic Ayine prepares to meet with officials from the US Department of Justice about outstanding extradition requests between the two countries.
Shortly after former CEO of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu, arrived in Ghana after being extradited from the United States, Minister for Government Communications Felix Kwakye Ofosu revealed the planned bilateral talks on social media.
Mr. Kwakye Ofosu revealed in the statement that the Attorney General would discuss any outstanding extradition issues involving Ghana and the United States with his counterparts in Washington.
The statement has rekindled public interest in Ghana’s request for the extradition of Mr. Ofori-Atta, whose case has become one of the nation’s most widely watched anti-corruption prosecutions, even though no specific person was mentioned.
The move coincides with the government’s ongoing resolve to prosecute everyone suspected of financial malfeasance and corruption, irrespective of their party affiliations or prior public office tenure.
The Attorney-General’s impending meeting with US authorities is seen by observers as a major step in Ghana’s efforts to secure the return of individuals who were charged with crimes while living elsewhere.
The status of extradition requests that have already been made through diplomatic channels is also anticipated to be evaluated at the talks.
The extradition request for Mr. Ofori-Atta and businessman Michael Akore is the focus of public attention.
The request is the result of the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s (OSP) investigations into contracts given to Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) for auditing and revenue assurance services rendered to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
The OSP then brought 78 charges of corruption and corruption-related offences against Mr. Ofori-Atta, Mr. Akore, SML, its CEO Evans Adusei, and a number of former GRA officials before the High Court’s Criminal Division.
Prosecutors claim that unfair advantages in contract award and execution were obtained through manipulation of procurement procedures.
The accusations include conspiracy, violating procurement laws, inflicting financial harm to the state, and using public office for personal gain.
The prosecution claims that the state suffered significant financial damages as a result of the transactions under examination.
All of the accused, however, have refuted the accusations and insisted on their innocence.
Shortly after the charges were brought, the formal extradition process began. The OSP wrote to the Attorney-General on November 19, 2025, asking that extradition procedures be started against Mr. Ofori-Atta and Mr. Akore, who were thought to be living in the United States.
In order to meet the legal standards regulating international extradition issues, Dr. Ayine subsequently revealed that his office examined the request and requested further supporting material from the OSP.
After the needed documents were delivered, the Attorney-General’s Department was able to finish the extradition package.
In December 2025, the completed request was sent to the US Department of Justice via Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for review in accordance with US law.
Shortly after the filing, Dr. Ayine spoke at the Government Accountability Series and clarified that the case had come under US legal jurisdiction and would be handled in compliance with US extradition protocols.
He pointed out that because those facing extradition petitions have the legal right to contest them at different levels of the legal process, these hearings are frequently drawn out.
The matter has sparked broad national interest due to Mr. Ofori-Atta’s role as Finance Minister during the Akufo-Addo administration, as well as the scope of the transactions under investigation.
Legal experts say the case could serve as a key test of Ghana and the United States’ international cooperation in the fight against corruption, especially if the extradition request proceeds through the full judicial procedure in the United States.
The Ofori-Atta case has received increased attention with the successful extradition of former MASLOC CEO Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu. Ghanaian authorities requested her repatriation after the High Court convicted and sentenced her in absentia in April 2024.
Following nearly two years of legal proceedings in the US, Ghana’s request was granted by US authorities, who also made it easier for her to return and fulfil her sentence, according to government officials.
Officers from the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Prisons Service detained her after she arrived in Accra in order to start the procedures involved in carrying out her sentence.
Anti-corruption initiatives and the recovery of public funds under the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) project have been highlighted by the Mahama government as a top priority for governance.
Following the successful extradition of Madam Tamakloe-Attionu, Ghana’s request for the return of Mr. Ofori-Atta and other individuals facing criminal procedures overseas is receiving more and more attention from the public.
Therefore, it is anticipated that the Attorney-General’s upcoming talks with the US Department of Justice would offer significant insights into the state of those initiatives and the future course of Ghana’s global anti-corruption drive.
Source: newsthemegh.com