The government on Wednesday, December 10 sent an extradition request to the Department of Justice of the United States of America (USA) regarding former Minister of Finance Kenneth Ofori-Atta, the Minister of Justice has revealed.
This request was sent through the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine further revealed.
The Attorney-General made this known on Thursday, December 18 while addressing the press on some of the engagements of his ministry thus far.
“I have formally transmitted a request for the extradition of former finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta and his Chef de Cabinet, Ernest Darko Akore.”
The two are among seven persons charged for corruption and corruption-related offences by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
The OSP had revealed in court on Thursday, December 11 that an extradition has begun for the two.
But while addressing the press, Attorney-General Ayine observed that following a preliminary review of the extradition request by an international unit cooperating with his office, it was observed that certain aspects of the request required clarification and enhancement in order to align with the applicable legal and procedural requirements.
Therefore, he noted: “At this point, it is left with 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.”
Mr Ofori-Atta and the six others have been implicated for, among others, causing financial loss to the state in a contract signed between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) Ghana.