By Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has disclosed that former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has hired top American lawyers with extensive experience to challenge his extradition to Ghana.
Dr. Ayine made the revelation on Thursday, December 18, 2025, during the government’s Accountability Series, after his office formally submitted an extradition request to United States authorities.
“The person who is the subject of an extradition will fight it in court. I have been informed that Mr. Ofori-Atta has hired some of the top lawyers in the US with extensive experience to defend him,” Dr. Ayine said, adding that the development does not intimidate Ghanaian authorities.
He explained that extradition proceedings in the United States are conducted through the federal court system and involve multiple layers of judicial review.
“He has the right to challenge any decision through the federal district court, the circuit court and, ultimately, the US Supreme Court if he is dissatisfied,” the Attorney-General stated.
Although he acknowledged that the legal process could be lengthy, Dr. Ayine expressed confidence in Ghana’s extradition request.
“I have formally transmitted a request for the extradition of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and his Chief of Staff, Ernest Darko Akore,” he said.
Following the submission, the United States Department of Justice is expected to determine whether the request meets the legal threshold for extradition.
“At this point, it is left to the American authorities, especially the judicial authorities, to decide whether a sufficient basis exists for the two accused persons to be extradited to Ghana to stand trial,” Dr. Ayine added.
