The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has reaffirmed that former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta is still facing extradition procedures, despite rumours that he has been granted permanent status in the United States.
The OSP said in a statement on Tuesday, June 16, that it had taken note of media reports and publications alleging that a US immigration court had given Mr. Ofori-Atta permanent residency after purportedly concluding that the criminal allegations brought against him in Ghana were not credible.
However, the OSP stressed that it is not a party to any immigration proceedings involving the former minister in the United States.
According to the statement, “The OSP states that it is not involved in immigration hearings in the United States involving Mr. Ofori-Atta.”
OSP claims that the Attorney-General, who serves as Ghana’s central authority in extradition procedures, is the only reason it is involved in the case.
“The OSP’s involvement is in respect of extradition proceedings against Mr. Ofori-Atta through the Attorney-General as the central authority,” it stated.
The Office went on to say that Mr. Ofori-Atta’s criminal charges are still up for the Ghanaian courts to decide, and that the extradition issue is distinct from any immigration procedure.
“The extradition packet is not before the immigration court; and the credibility or otherwise of the criminal charges against Mr. Ofori-Atta would be determined by the courts in Ghana, who have jurisdiction to determine his guilt or innocence,” the OSP noted.
Additionally, the Special Prosecutor’s Office dismissed claims that Mr. Ofori-Atta is automatically protected from extradition by any immigration decision made in the United States.
“Further, Mr. Ofori-Atta still remains a citizen of Ghana and he is still amenable to be extradited to Ghana if so decided by the extradition court in the United States,” the statement said.
The explanation follows news that, in the midst of current judicial procedures involving him in Ghana, a US immigration court had permitted the former Finance Minister to move forward with acquiring lawful permanent resident status, often known as a Green Card.
Source: newsthemegh.com