Ken Ofori-Atta
Former Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, is said to be pursuing the possibility of acquiring a permanent United States residency rather than returning to Ghana, where he is wanted to stand trial for a myriad of allegations of corruption and related offences.
This follows what his lawyer describes as the existence of “serious questions” about the independence of Ghana’s judiciary.
Mr. Ofori-Atta is currently in the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention in Virginia, where he is being held for overstaying his US visa.
The former Finance Minister is wanted in Ghana to face charges of corruption and related offences pertaining to some decisions he took during his tenure as Minister for Finance under the erstwhile Nana Akufo-Addo-led New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), has charged him and seven others over the controversial revenue assurance contract awarded to Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML), allegedly costing the nation over GH¢1.4 billion “financial loss.”
His lawyer, Enayat Qasimi, who is handing his deportation case in the United States, told news site Semafor that the former Finance Minister has been subjected to a “political witch hunt” in Ghana, which suggests that he is unlikely to get a fair trial if he returns to face the allegations made against him.
He added that Mr. Ofori-Atta has a “pathway to residency” that he would pursue.
The latest development is unfolding despite the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine assuring that government is committed to ensuring that Mr. Ofori-Atta receives a fair trial, while encouraging him to return to Ghana voluntarily.
“…If I were him, I would join the next available flight. Under my watch, he will not be treated unfairly; he will go through due process and be prosecuted just like any other person,” he stated in December last year.
The OSP has secured an order of summons to be served on Mr. Ofori-Atta and his Chef de Cabinet, Ernest Darko Akore, outside the jurisdiction as the Office takes steps to prosecute the two in absentia if they fail to return to Ghana.
Last month, United States Department of Justice acknowledged receipt of extradition packet sent by Ghana, regarding Mr. Ofori-Atta who is wanted in Ghana for alleged corruption and related offences.
As a result, the charge sheet and the summons have been transmitted to the US as the OSP takes steps to serve him outside the jurisdiction and possibly try him in absentia if he fails to return to Ghana.
The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, has also informed the trial court that the US Department of Justice has sent notice through the Office of the Attorney General enquiring the OSP’s preference as to whether the charge sheet and the summons should be served on Mr. Ofori-Atta’s Chef de Cabinet, Ernest Darko Akore, before the institution of extradition proceedings against him in the United States.
He said the OSP has responded by advising the US Department of Justice to employ the most expeditious and judicious process in this regard, adding that as of yesterday, Mr. Akore had not been served with the summons.
“In the circumstances, the Republic of Ghana is abiding the outcome of these two proceedings in respect of A1 (Ofori-Atta) and the outcome of extradition proceedings in respect of A2 (Akore) before the state can advise the court as to their presence or not,” Mr. Agyebeng added.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak
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