President John Dramani Mahama has urged Ghanaians to remain patient as efforts continue to extradite former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta from the United States to face legal proceedings in Ghana.
Speaking during a Presidential Dialogue with Civil Society, President Mahama stressed that the extradition process is beyond the control of the Ghanaian government, as it is being handled under a different jurisdiction.
“I cannot comment on the extradition of our former finance minister because it’s in a different jurisdiction and I have no control of it,” Mahama said.
He explained that Ghana has already submitted an extradition request and that the country must now allow legal processes in the United States to take their course.
“All I know is that Ghana has put in an extradition request and so we just have to be patient for the laws to play out in that jurisdiction and whatever the eventual decision is, we cannot change it because it’s not within our jurisdiction and so we just have to be patient and see what happens,” he added.
President Mahama noted that the situation involves two separate issues—the extradition request and Ofori-Atta’s immigration-related detention by U.S. authorities.
“But I know there are two parallel issues. One is the extradition request by Ghana and the other one is the immigration issue. The arrest was made by ICE for violating immigration status, but then also there’s the additional issue of the extradition,” he explained.
He emphasized that the matter now lies in the hands of the American judicial system, and Ghana cannot influence the outcome.
“But like I said, it’s all in the hands of the American judiciary and it’s not within our effort to influence that and so let’s just leave it and see what comes out of it,” Mahama stated.
Ofori-Atta is currently the subject of a request by Ghanaian authorities over allegations including corruption, conflict of interest, and procurement breaches linked to the Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) contract, as investigations continue under the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
Authorities say they will continue to pursue the case while respecting international legal procedures.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
