Dr Dominic Ayine, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, has urged the former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, to take the next flight home.
According to the Attorney General, under his watch, Ofori-Atta will not be treated unfairly.
He further revealed that he has formally transmitted a request for the extradition of Ken Ofori-Atta and an alleged accomplice, Ernest Akore, from the United States.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Thursday, December 18, 2025, the Attorney General stated, “I have, on behalf of the Government of His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama, taken the requisite steps to bring him to Ghana to face trial. And if I were him, this is his home; he should just join the next flight and come here.
“Under my watch, he will not be treated unfairly. You know, he will go through due process and be prosecuted, just like any other person, just like Kwabena Adu-Boahene, or Hanan (Abdul-Wahab Aludiba), or any of the persons that we have filed charges against,” he said.
He revealed that Ken Ofori-Atta has hired top US lawyers to fight his extradition process to Ghana.
Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine highlighted that the lawyers hired by Ken Ofori-Atta do not daunt him, and he knows there is going to be a fight in the federal courts in the US.
He added that the requirement for the extradition request to be tried in courts may delay the return of Ofori-Atta to Ghana, which makes it difficult to give a potential date.
The AG added, “I just got to know yesterday that he has hired some of the top lawyers in the United States of America, very experienced lawyers to defend him. Now, I’m not afraid at all, I am not afraid at all. But it means that there is going to be a fight in the federal courts in the US.
“If the district court says ‘no’, he will go to the circuit court, all right? If the Circuit Court says ‘no’, he is entitled to go to the US Supreme Court to fight his case.”
He added, “So, I cannot tell you that he will come tomorrow or he will come the next day. And I’m just being honest. Accounting to the people means being explicit and truthful. So this is what I mean, we are faced with.”
Meanwhile, the Office of the immediate past president of Ghana has said Akufo-Addo is concern of the fate of his cousin and former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
According to the Office of the former President, Akufo-Addo is personally concern of Ken Ofori-Atta’s fate but will not interfere with the rule of law.
Akufo-Addo’s office further dismissed media reports which suggest he is seeking safe passage for his cousin and former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, from President John Mahama, labelling the media reports a “total fabrication”.
On Tuesday, December 16, 2025, the office of the former president issued a rejoinder labelling the story published by the Herald Newspaper and picked up by other outlets, as “utterly false”.
The statement stated Akufo-Addo has neither contemplated such a consideration nor expressly or impliedly made any such request or representation to President John Dramani Mahama.
The statement, however, acknowledged Akufo-Addo’s concerns for Ofori-Atta but emphasised that this does not extend to wanting to interfere with the rule of law.
“As a firm believer in democratic tenets, Nana Akufo-Addo’s fidelity to the Rule of Law has never been in question. It is true that the fate of Ofori Atta is of considerable concern to the Former President because, after all, apart from Mr Ofori Atta being his cousin, more importantly, he was the Minister for Finance in both the governments of his mandate. But that concern does not extend to wanting to interfere with the rule of law. Hopefully, this sets the record straight on this matter”, part of the statement read.
Additionally, 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:
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine announces that his office has formally submitted a request to American 🇺🇸 Authorities for the extradition of Ken Ofori Atta aka the FUGITIVE and Ernest Darko Akore, a former Chef de cabinet (Technical… pic.twitter.com/VNN3LxQURF
— Aristotlektv (@aristotledada) December 18, 2025