The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has rejected media reports and a publication attributed to a Ghanaian law firm suggesting that a United States immigration court found criminal charges filed against former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta not credible in proceedings that led to him being granted permanent residency.
In a statement responding to the reports, the OSP said it had taken note of “media reports and a publication attributed to a law firm in Ghana that Mr Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta has been granted permanent residency in the United States resulting from an immigration court finding that it did not find the criminal charges filed by the OSP in Ghana against Mr. Ofori-Atta credible.”
The Office clarified that it is not involved in any immigration hearings in the United States concerning Mr Ofori-Atta. It stressed that its mandate relates to extradition proceedings being pursued through Ghana’s Attorney-General as the central authority.
“The OSP states that it is not involved in immigration hearings in the United States involving Mr. Ofori-Atta. The OSP’s involvement is in respect of extradition proceedings against Mr. Ofori-Atta through the Attorney-General as the central authority,” the statement said.
It further emphasized that the extradition process is separate from any immigration proceedings abroad, adding that “the extradition packet is not before the immigration court; and the credibility or otherwise of the criminal charges against Mr. Ofori-Atta would be determined by the courts in Ghana, who have jurisdiction to determine his guilt or innocence.”
The OSP also noted that Mr Ofori-Atta remains a Ghanaian citizen and is still subject to possible extradition if a competent court in the United States so determines.
“Mr. Ofori-Atta still remains a citizen of Ghana and he is still amenable to be extradited to Ghana if so decided by the extradition court in the United States,” it added.
