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“US citizenship status doesn’t prevent extradition” – OSP on Ofori-Atta’s extradition

News“US citizenship status doesn’t prevent extradition” - OSP on Ofori-Atta’s extradition

Kissi Agyebeng, the Special Prosecutor, has provided an update on the extradition of former finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta.

According to Kissi Agyebeng, even if Ken Ofori-Atta has US citizenship, it will not stop his extradition.

He highlighted that the US citizenship status doesn’t prevent extradition.

Kissi Agyebeng added that the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) is working closely with the Office of the Attorney General to complete the extradition procedures.

Addressing the media during a press conference on Thursday, October 30, 2025, the Special Prosecutor explained, “It’s unfortunate that there’s been talk about dockets and we’ve refused to give the docket and all. That is beside the point; that is not the issue at all”.

“The issue is that you need to get it right the first time; you don’t keep going back and forth.”

“US citizenship status doesn’t prevent extradition. We will not give up; we will still move on with the processes and ensure that Ghanaians become less restive and appreciate the work we’re doing with the Attorney General,” Kissi Agyebeng noted.

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.

On June 13, 2025, Mayo Clinic in the United States revealed Ken Ofori-Atta has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and is expected to undergo surgery on June 13, 2025.

The wife, Prof. Mrs Angela Ofori-Atta, in the statement dated June 16, 2025, explained that Mr Ofori-Atta successfully underwent the surgery for prostate cancer at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, on Friday, June 13, and lasted over four hours.

“The doctors are pleased with how the procedure went and will now place him on a postoperative regime,” she added.

“Kenneth has always been resilient. But this has been very difficult; with the OSP choosing the period just before his surgery to declare a red alert on him,” she said.

She further gave a possible timeline by which her husband would be able to honour the invitation by the Special Prosecutor to appear before his outfit in person.

According to Prof Mrs Angela Ofori-Atta, after a successful surgery on June 13, Mr Ofori-Atta would require about 3 months to recover fully.

Mr Ofori-Atta failed to appear before the OSP for an investigative interview scheduled for Monday, June 2, 2025.

The OSP later issued a notice placing Ken Ofori-Atta on the INTERPOL Red Alert Notice database, but despite the notice, the former finance minister is still at large.

Meanwhile, Martin Kpebu, a private legal practitioner, has told the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to initiate a trial in absentia against former finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta.

 Speaking in an interview on Joy FM, Mr Kpebu stated, “That’s how come for me, I said this is his [Ofori-Atta’s] country. He has some properties here, so let’s start. If we start and he doesn’t come, then the trial will go on without him.

“Let’s do the processes. Take the offer. Have you gone to Ofori-Atta to take his statement in America, and he says no? He says he will do it. So let’s do it. Then we can start the trial here,” he added.

He explained, “Article 19 clause 3 simply says that if you know there is a criminal case against you and you don’t appear, the trial can proceed in your absence”.

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