Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, has said he would be very happy to hand over Frederick Kumi, widely known as Abu Trica, in exchange for the former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta.
Speaking during the Government’s Accountability Series on Thursday, December 18, 2025, the Attorney General stated, “I would have been glad to hand over Abu Trica, as I have done in other cases, and in return secure Ken Ofori-Atta. However, extradition must go through a court of competent jurisdiction. In our case, that is a district court. In the US, it will be a federal district court”.
“The person subject to extradition will contest it in court. The US authorities cannot simply accept my request and take him. The case will proceed through formal court proceedings,” Dr Ayine explained.
Abu Trica, a 31-year-old Ghanaian from Swedru, who was arrested for his alleged involvement in an $8 million romance scam which targeted elderly victims in the United States.
He was arrested in Ghana on December 11, 2025, following an investigation conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. McDonough for the Northern District of Ohio.
The US Department of Justice wrote, “According to the indictment, perpetrators of this romance scam used Artificial Intelligence software to assume false identities and form close personal relationships with victims. They gained victims’ trust to obtain money and valuables, often targeting individuals through social media and online dating platforms under false pretences.
Victims were often elderly and engaged in romantic but physically distant relationships with perpetrators. The perpetrators built trust through frequent, intimate conversations by phone, email, and messaging platforms. They then requested money or valuables under false pretenses, such as urgent medical needs, travel expenses, or investment opportunities. Relying on these misrepresentations, victims were persuaded to send funds or valuables, which were then directed to co-conspirators posing as third parties.
The indictment also alleges that after the victims transferred funds, Kumi worked with a network of co-conspirators to distribute the money from Ohio and across the United States to associates in the Republic of Ghana and other locations.
Kumi has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and a forfeiture specification, and faces up to 20 years in prison”.
It further added, “If convicted, a defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to this case, including a defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, his role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentences will not exceed the statutory maximum, and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt”.
Also, it will be recalled that the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), Kissi Agyebeng, declared Ken Ofori-Atta a fugitive for failing to appear for interrogation into corruption-related investigations.
Ken Ofori Atta has been accused of causing financial loss to the state in several dealings, including the construction of the famous National Cathedral and Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA’s) – Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd (SML), Termination of a contract between the Electricity Company of Ghana Limited and Beijing Xiao Cheng Technology (BXC) for the Distribution and Ambulance Procurement: A Ministry of Health contract with Service Ghana Auto Group Limited.
Also, the OSP has since arraigned Ken Ofori-Atta and seven others in connection with the 78 charges filed against them in connection with the Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) revenue assurance contract with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
Watch the video below:
“I would’ve been happy to hand over Abutrica and get Ofori Atta in return—However, Ken Ofori Atta has hired some of the top US lawyers to battle our extradition request”
— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) December 18, 2025
— The attorney general, Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine has revealed that the former finance minister has hired… pic.twitter.com/1pfUmKE5su