Ghana’s Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Hon. Dominic Ayine, has confirmed that his office has formally initiated extradition proceedings for former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and his former chef de cabinet, Mr. Ernest Darko Akori, following corruption-related charges filed against them by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series at the Jubilee House in Accra, Hon. Ayine said the request for extradition has now been transmitted through the appropriate diplomatic and legal channels and is awaiting determination by the judicial authorities in the United States of America, where the two accused persons are currently believed to be.
According to the Attorney-General, the process began on November 19, 2025, when his office received a formal request from the OSP to initiate extradition proceedings against the former Finance Minister and his associate.
He explained that the request followed investigations conducted by the OSP into alleged acts of corruption and corruption-related offences, which culminated in the filing of charges at the High Court of Justice.
Hon. Ayine noted that upon receipt of the request, his office conducted a preliminary review through its International Cooperation Unit and identified areas that required clarification and strengthening to ensure full compliance with applicable legal and procedural requirements governing extradition.
“Following a preliminary review, our International Cooperation Unit observed that certain aspects of the request required clarification and enhancements to align with the applicable legal and procedural requirements”.
Ghana’s Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Hon. Dominic Ayine
As a result, the Attorney-General’s Department formally communicated these observations to the Office of the Special Prosecutor in a letter dated November 25, 2025, requesting supplementary documentation to complete the process.
He disclosed that the OSP responded promptly, submitting the additional documentation on December 9, 2025. The Attorney-General said the supplementary materials adequately addressed the issues earlier raised by his office, thereby finalising what he described as the extradition request packages.
“On December 10, 2025, my office transmitted the complete request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for onwards transmission to the competent authorities in the United States of America, that is in this case, the Department of Justice of the United States”.
Ghana’s Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Hon. Dominic Ayine
Ken Ofori-Atta’s Fate in US Authorities
He stressed that the matter is now entirely in the hands of the American authorities, particularly the courts, which are required to assess whether the legal threshold for extradition has been met under U.S. law and applicable international arrangements.
“At this point, it is left 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”.
Ghana’s Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Hon. Dominic Ayine
The Attorney-General was careful not to delve into the substance of the charges, citing legal constraints. He explained that because the cases have already been filed in court by the Office of the Special Prosecutor, he is not permitted to comment on the details during a press conference.
However, he pointed out that the charge sheet is a public document and is readily accessible. According to Hon. Ayine, the charges against Mr. Ofori-Atta and his alleged accomplices number 78 and relate broadly to offences such as causing financial loss to the state and using public office for private benefit.
“There are 78 charges against Mr. Ofori-Atta and his accomplices and they border on causing financial loss to the state, using public office for private benefit, and so on and so forth,” he said, adding that members of the public are free to review the charge sheet and form their own opinions on the allegations.
Hon. Ayine emphasised that the government’s role is not to prejudge the case but to ensure that due process is followed. He underscored the government’s commitment to accountability and the rule of law, insisting that all legally required steps have been taken to secure the return of the accused persons to face trial in Ghana.
“Basically, what I want Ghanaians to know is that this government is committed to accountability and the government has taken the requisite steps that are legally required for the Honourable Ken Ofori-Atta and Ernest Darko Akori to be extradited to Ghana to face justice”.
Ghana’s Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Hon. Dominic Ayine
Reiterating his earlier remarks, the Attorney-General said the final decision now rests with the U.S. judicial authorities, who will assess the entire extradition package to determine whether there is sufficient legal basis to grant the request. Until that determination is made, he said, his office will refrain from further public commentary on the substance of the case.
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