Private legal practitioner and member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwasi Kwarteng, has suggested that the government may proceed with prosecuting Ken Ofori-Atta even if efforts to extradite him from the United States are unsuccessful.
His comments follow Ofori-Atta’s recent release from detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement over immigration-related issues, as Ghana continues legal processes to secure his return to face multiple charges.
Speaking on The Big Issue, Mr. Kwarteng argued that criminal prosecutions are largely evidence-driven and do not always require the physical presence of the accused person for proceedings to continue.
He noted that while extradition remains the preferred approach, the state should not be left without alternatives if the process fails.
According to him, Ghana’s legal framework allows for options such as filing charges and pursuing prosecution in absentia where necessary.
“Assuming… that the state is not successful in its request to bring Mr. Ofori-Atta back through the extradition process, what then becomes our second option? … We may probably have to be looking at the state pressing charges if there are any,” he stated.
Mr. Kwarteng further emphasized that investigators can build and prosecute cases based on available evidence, even without direct input from the accused.
Ken Ofori-Atta, who served under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is currently facing a series of legal challenges in Ghana, reportedly involving more than 70 criminal charges linked to alleged financial losses to the state.
The Government of Ghana has initiated extradition proceedings in the United States, with the next steps dependent on decisions by U.S. judicial authorities.
While Ofori-Atta has been released from custody, his legal situation remains unresolved as both legal and diplomatic processes continue.
