The United States Embassy in Accra has cautioned that while it is open to receiving extradition requests for Ghanaian fugitives on American soil, the process is rigorous and rarely swift.
Speaking at a media roundtable on December 12, 2025, Chargé d’Affaires Rolf Olson explained that U.S. extradition procedures are “very well-established and generally not very quick,” involving multiple legal layers and independent judicial review.
“If the U.S. receives a request, it goes through various mechanisms, but the door is always open. No individual case can be prejudged because U.S. judges ultimately decide,” Olson stated.
The remarks come amid mounting public pressure over the delayed extradition of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, who is facing 78 corruption-related charges in Ghana and is believed to be in the United States citing health reasons.
A petition launched by U.S.-based Ghanaian professor Stephen Kwaku Asare has garnered over 3,100 signatures, calling on American authorities to assist in locating and returning Ofori-Atta to face trial.
Despite the Office of the Special Prosecutor initiating legal mechanisms and international cooperation, no timeline has been confirmed for his appearance.
This year alone, U.S. authorities have successfully extradited nine Ghanaian nationals, mostly in romance scam cases, demonstrating cooperation when formal requests meet legal thresholds.
The Embassy stressed that judicial independence remains central to all decisions, underscoring that speed cannot override due process.
