The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has dismissed claims that a United States immigration court has weakened its criminal case against former Finance Minister Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta, insisting that only Ghanaian courts can determine the validity of the charges against him.
The response follows media reports citing a purported transcript from a US Immigration Court in Virginia, which suggested an immigration judge found insufficient credible evidence linking Mr Ofori-Atta to criminal wrongdoing in Ghana.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, July 21, the OSP said the reports created the false impression that Mr Ofori-Atta “has not been credibly charged in Ghana or credibly shown to have engaged in any wrongdoing in Ghana.”
The anti-corruption agency stressed that it is not involved in Mr Ofori-Atta’s US immigration case. Its role, it explained, is limited to extradition proceedings handled through Ghana’s Attorney-General.
“The OSP stated on 16 June 2026 that it is not involved in immigration hearings in the United States involving Mr Ofori-Atta, and that the OSP’s involvement relates to extradition proceedings against Mr Ofori-Atta through the Attorney-General, as the central authority,” the statement said.
The OSP emphasized that the US immigration proceedings have no impact on the criminal case before the High Court in Accra.
“The OSP reiterates that the extradition packet is not before the immigration court. The credibility or otherwise of the criminal charges against Mr. Ofori-Atta is a matter for determination by the courts in Ghana, which have jurisdiction to determine his guilt or innocence. Such matters are not determined by an immigration court in the United States.”
The Office said public discussion has wrongly merged three separate legal processes: US immigration proceedings, US extradition proceedings, and the criminal trial in Ghana.
It further maintained that Mr Ofori-Atta remains wanted by Ghanaian authorities.
“The OSP reiterates that Mr Ofori-Atta remains the subject of criminal proceedings in Ghana, which are before the High Court, Accra. A valid warrant of arrest has been issued by the High Court, Accra, and Mr Ofori-Atta remains a fugitive from justice in Ghana.”
“The criminal proceedings in Ghana shall continue in accordance with applicable law and the directives of the High Court, Accra, whether or not Mr. Ofori-Atta is present in Ghana.”
