The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has clarified that proceedings before a United States immigration court involving former Finance Minister Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta do not determine the validity of the criminal charges against him in Ghana.
In a statement, the OSP said it had taken note of a transcript of hearing purportedly from a U.S. Immigration Court, which has been circulated by some media outlets and interpreted to suggest that Mr. Ofori-Atta has not been credibly charged or shown to have engaged in wrongdoing in Ghana.
The OSP explained that it is not involved in the immigration proceedings in the United States involving Mr. Ofori-Atta. It said its involvement relates to extradition proceedings being pursued through the Attorney-General, who serves as Ghana’s central authority in such matters.
According to the OSP, the extradition documents are not before the U.S. Immigration Court, stressing that the determination of whether the criminal charges against Mr. Ofori-Atta have merit falls within the jurisdiction of Ghanaian courts.
The Office outlined three separate legal processes involving the former minister: U.S. immigration proceedings concerning his immigration status; extradition proceedings to determine whether he should be surrendered to Ghana; and the criminal prosecution in Ghana for alleged corruption and corruption-related offences before the High Court in Accra.
The OSP maintained that Mr. Ofori-Atta remains the subject of criminal proceedings in Ghana and that a valid warrant of arrest has been issued by the High Court, Accra. It said he is required to submit himself to the jurisdiction of the court to answer the charges against him.
The Office added that the criminal proceedings in Ghana will continue in accordance with the law and directives of the High Court, whether or not Mr. Ofori-Atta is present in the country.
Story by Freedom Etsey Lavoe
