Ghana Seeks Extradition of Former Finance Minister from U.S. on Corruption Charges
ACCRA — Ghana has formally requested the extradition of its former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, and a former senior aide from the United States to face a barrage of corruption-related charges at home, the country’s Attorney General has confirmed.
The request, transmitted to U.S. authorities, targets Ofori-Atta, a pivotal and controversial figure who led Ghana’s economy from 2017 until early 2024, and Ernest Darko Akore, his former chef de cabinet. The move follows an extensive investigation by Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
The OSP has filed a total of 78 corruption-related charges against Ofori-Atta and other individuals. While the full details of the chargesheet have not been publicly released, they are believed to stem from allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement during his tenure.
Ghana’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, stated that all procedural requirements for the extradition request have been fulfilled. “The request has been transmitted,” Dr. Ayine said, noting that the decision now “rests with the U.S. judicial system to determine whether a sufficient legal basis exists to grant the extradition.”
The path to this request has been marked by escalating legal pressure. Earlier this year, the OSP declared Ofori-Atta a wanted person after he failed to appear for questioning. The agency subsequently secured an Interpol Red Notice, a global alert to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest an individual pending extradition.
Ken Ofori-Atta was a central architect of the economic policies of President Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration. His time in office coincided with both significant infrastructure drives and a severe economic crisis that led Ghana to seek a $3 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund. His handling of the economy made him a frequent target of opposition criticism and public protest.
The extradition request marks one of the highest-profile actions taken by Ghana’s OSP since its establishment in 2017 to investigate and prosecute corruption among public officials. The case is being closely watched as a test of the country’s anti-corruption framework and its international judicial cooperation.
There has been no immediate public comment from Ken Ofori-Atta or his representatives regarding the extradition request. The process with U.S. authorities is expected to be complex and lengthy, contingent on the provisions of the extradition treaty between the two nations and the evidence presented by Ghanaian prosecutors.
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