President John Dramani Mahama has said he cannot comment on the ongoing proceedings to extradite former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
According to John Mahama, Ken Ofori-Atta’s extradition process is out of his jurisdiction and within the jurisdiction of the United States.
He asserted that it would be inappropriate for him to make pronouncements on a case.
Speaking during a Presidential Dialogue with Civil Society Organisations at Jubilee House in Accra on Monday, March 30, Mahama stated, “I cannot comment on the extradition of our former Finance Minister because it is in a different jurisdiction… we just have to be patient for the law to play out in that jurisdiction. It is not within our jurisdiction, but the American judiciary…”
In related news, “Enayat Qasimi, a US-based lawyer representing Ghana’s former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, has disclosed that his client has a pathway to US residency.
According to Ken Ofori-Atta’s US-based lawyer, his client will pursue permanent US residency rather than returning to his home country.
Reports by JOYNEWs revealed Enayat Qasimi told Semafor his client has a “pathway to residency” that he would pursue.
“He claimed there were “serious questions” about the independence of the Ghanaian judiciary and said that Mr Ofori-Atta had been subjected to a “political witch hunt” that meant he was unlikely to receive a fair trial over alleged financial impropriety while in office, from 2017 to 2024”, JoyNews is quoted to have said.
In related news, reports suggest the United States immigration court has denied former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta bail.
Reports suggest that Ken Ofori-Atta’s bail, which was heard on February 19, 2026, was unsuccessful.
According to veteran journalist Alfred Ogbamey, lawyers for Ken Ofori-Atta had prayed the court to grant bail to allow him to seek medical attention.
Nevertheless, the presiding judge, David Gardey, denied the request.
Judge Gardey reportedly ruled that bail was unnecessary, arguing that Ofori-Atta has access to adequate medical care at the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility where he is being held.
Parts of the post shared by the veteran journalist stated, “At his hearing last Thursday, lawyers for Ken Ofori-Atta argued that he should be granted bail to access proper medical care. Sources say the Judge refused the request, insisting that the former minister has access to adequate medical needs at the ICE facility”.
Also, TV3 in a post stated, “Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta remains in detention in the United States after a bail application in his immigration case was unsuccessful, according to sources familiar with the proceedings”.
It will be recalled that Ken Ofori-Atta’s bond hearing, which is known as a bail hearing in Ghana, took place on February 19, 2026.
The federal judge was said to know whether Ghanaian authorities have filed proper proof of an extradition request.
Also, Frank Davies, a member of the Legal Team of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, has disclosed that his client’s decision to seek permanent residence in the U.S. is personal.
According to Frank Davies, Ken Ofori-Atta’s decision to seek permanent residence in the U.S has nothing to do with his legal matter but personal.
Frank Davis is quoted by TV3 as saying, “Ken Ofori-Atta’s decision to seek permanent residence in the U.S. is a personal and not a legal matter”.