The government has formally submitted a request to authorities in the United States for the extradition of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and his former Chef de Cabinet, Ernest Darko Akore, to face corruption-related charges brought by the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, disclosed this on Thursday, December 18, during the Government Accountability Series, saying the move followed the completion of all legal and procedural requirements by his office.
“This step was taken after my office received the necessary documentation and clarifications from the Office of the Special Prosecutor,” Dr Ayine said, adding that the extradition request had now been formally transmitted to the United States authorities.
According to the Attorney-General, the two former officials are expected to answer to a total of 78 alleged corruption and corruption-related offences already filed by the Office of the Special Prosecutor. He explained that once the request had been transmitted, the process moved beyond the control of the Ghanaian authorities.
“It is now in the hands of the U.S. judicial authorities to ascertain whether the threshold for extradition has been met,” he stated.
Dr Ayine said his office had acted on a formal request received from the Office of the Special Prosecutor on November 19, 2025, seeking the initiation of extradition proceedings against Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta and Ernest Darko Akore, both believed to be in the United States.
He explained that a preliminary review conducted by an international unit working with the Attorney-General’s Office revealed gaps that required clarification to meet the applicable legal and procedural standards. As a result, the Office communicated its observations to the OSP in a letter dated November 25, 2025, requesting supplementary documentation.
The Attorney-General said the OSP responded on December 9, 2025, providing the requested additional documentation and addressing the issues raised. This, he said, completed the extradition request package, which was subsequently forwarded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for onward transmission to the United States Department of Justice.
“At this point, it is left with the to the American authorities especially the Judicial authorities to make a determination on whether a sufficient basis exists for the two accused persons to be extradited to Ghana to stand trial,” Dr Ayine said.
He stressed that the government remains committed to accountability and due process, and will continue to cooperate with international partners while respecting the legal frameworks governing extradition under both Ghanaian and United States law.
The extradition request follows criminal charges filed by the Office of the Special Prosecutor on Tuesday, November 18, against Mr Ofori-Atta and seven others over 78 counts of corruption and corruption-related offences. The other accused persons are Ernest Darko Akore, Emmanuel Kofi Nti, Ammishaddai Owusu Amoah, Isaac Crenstil, Kwadwo Damoah, Evans Adusei and Strategic Mobilisation Limited.
Mr Ofori-Atta is expected to be tried in absentia, having failed to return to Ghana after travelling to the United States.
Earlier, at a press briefing on October 30, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng said investigations had uncovered evidence of serious financial irregularities involving senior officials of the Ministry of Finance and the Ghana Revenue Authority, as well as individuals linked to Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited.
“The outcome of the investigation is that the OSP will charge the following persons with various corruption and corruption-related offences before the end of November 2025,” Mr Agyebeng said at the time.
He added that the OSP would also pursue the recovery of financial losses allegedly suffered by the state. “As part of the process, the OSP will seek to recover the financial loss caused to the Republic from the persons listed above,” he stated.
Mr Agyebeng further disclosed that the OSP intends to recover GH₵125 million from Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited, which he described as unjust enrichment obtained “unfairly at the expense of the Republic.”
“The OSP will recover a total amount of GH₵125 from SML by way of disgorgement of unjust enrichment of overpayment by the return of the benefit this amount obtained unfairly at the expense of the Republic,” he said.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh
